Page 84 of The Forbidden Fling

Riley broke the quiet, her voice low as they hiked further into the woods. “Thank you again, Faye, for your part in discovering Tiago’s involvement.”

“It’s my pleasure.” Her footsteps sank into the soft earth. “Honestly, I would’ve felt awful leaving knowing it was still going on.”

“It wasn’t your problem to solve, but I really do appreciate it.”

“How’s Duarte holding up?” Faye asked.

Riley glanced at Carla, who wiped her brow with the back of her hand. “He’s not good,” Carla said. “Beating himself up like it was him who’d done it. I think he feels responsible for bringing his brother here.”

“Maybe I need to have another chat with him,” Riley said, twigs snapping under her feet. “I know he would have nothing to do with something like this.”

“What will happen to Tiago?” Faye asked.

“He’ll be tried and fined. Maybe even a prison sentence, depending on how deep it goes.”

Good. The word settled solidly inside her. “I just hope the animals are safe now. Will the centre be alright?”

Riley hesitated, lifting her eyes to the gaps in the canopy where golden sunlight passed through. “Catching the poachers won’t fix all of our problems, but it should help with the strain on resources at least.” The sound of birdsong grew louder, closer, and Riley set the carrier down carefully, crouching on the forest floor. “This is my favourite bit about all of this,” she whispered. “To see them back where they belong.” She straightened, turning to Faye. “Do you want to do the honours?”

“Really?”

“You found her. It seems only fitting you release her again.”

Faye knelt in the mulch, her finger hovering over the lock. She slid the metal clasp open and eased the door wide with a soft creak.

Nothing happened.

The parakeet stood still, head twitching and assessing. A breeze threaded through the trees, lifting the hairs along Faye’s arms. Then Pinkie hopped forward, as though the leaves had whispered their encouragement. Then another hop.

They waited, the moment stretching, Faye’s breathing too loud. Faye could understand the bird’s hesitancy. “Come on, Pinkie,” she whispered. “It’s time to go home.”

She admired the bird’s pink crown, her bright green feathers, and the sprained wing that the volunteers at the centre had lovingly healed back to health. What an amazing thing to have witnessed up close.

The bird took another hop forward, head tilted towards the sky, and then with a flap of her wings, she burst free, a rush of colour flashing through the air. Elation flowed through her.

Pinkie did it!

Faye stayed kneeling, hands loose in her lap, listening as the forest settled back into itself. She scanned the canopy, searching for any sign of the bird, but she couldn’t see without her binoculars. In the blink of an eye, that was goodbye. She sucked in a breath, feeling stupid for feeling sad. It wasn’t a sad thing at all. It meant a second chance, a new start; it meant life.

The heat returned. Her skin was sticky beneath her shirt, but her chest weighed lighter, as though something significant had been set right.

Carla whooped, the sound echoing through the trees. Riley laughed and joined in, cupping her hands around her mouth. Faye grinned and let out a loud cheer from deep in her chest, shaking loose whatever heaviness clung there.

The treetops rustled above them. They tipped their heads back in time to see a flash of green bombing from the leaves. Dozens of parakeets poured into the air, wings cutting through sunlight as they swept the top of the forest in perfect synchronicity.

Faye’s mouth fell open. She’d never seen so many all together. They cheered and clapped until they disappeared out of sight, the sound chasing the flock as they vanished beyond the trees.

Faye stood there smiling long after the birds were gone, her pulse racing—not with anxiety this time, but with something clean and bright.

Of course she needed goodbyes to move forward. Otherwise, she’d stay still, confined in a cage because she was too afraid to try. She wanted the new start, the regenerated version of Faye. She didn’t want to be scared anymore. What was the point? It was only her who suffered.

Something slid into place. She was going to do it! After the Fire Ceremony tomorrow, Faye was going to be honest with Diana. She didn’t want to take away from the significance of the ceremony; that would be wrong of her. But afterwards, once they’d given their thanks and received their familiars, she was going to be brave and honest and say what she wanted. Even if that meant saying goodbye for good.

But first, there was something else she needed to do.

* * *

Faye ran into the reception building. “Quin!” Quin’s eyes grew wide as she approached, but she didn’t slow down. “Come with me.”