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“Then let’s rest while you can.” I draw to a stop several feet from a swarm of jagged black rocks and plop down onto the sand. Cress settles beside me. Digging my toes into the ashen shore, I say, “What happened to you in Adelphi? Last I heard, you and your midwife fled after sending Tyl to attain supplies because of birth complications.”
Cress grimaces. “Sorry about that. I kept to my original birthing plan and went to Nightfell so I could give birth to Lowella as a wolf.”
“Lowella? That’s—”
“One of the names you suggested, yes.” She laughs. “Turns out, it means ‘great beauty.’ My aunt loves it.”
I reach for her hand. “Where’s Lowella now?”
“With my aunt,” she says. “We’re staying with her in Nightfell since she’s been helping me acclimate into motherhood in my parents’ absence, but it’s so fucking hard. I don’t know what I’m doing.”
The waves lap gently against the shore, and I lay my head on her shoulder. “You don’t have to know what you’re doing to be a good mother.”
Her cheek meets my hair. “Thank you for that.”
“Have you seen Tyl since Lowella was born?” I ask.
“Yes.” She lets out another deep sigh. “I snuck back into Adelphi to grab some necessities from home and then sought him out to tell him I was leaving the capital for good. He wasn’t thrilled, and we argued about it for at least an hour because he couldn’t understand why Lowella and I weren’t safe there anymore. After all I’ve done to keep my true nature a secret, I had to tell him the truth for him to fully comprehend the danger of us remaining in Adelphi.”
“Oh, gods. What did he say?”
“He said—” Her voice cracks, and she clears her throat. “He said he needed a few days to come to terms with it, and he’d contact me if and when he’s ready to talk.”
She lifts her head, and I do the same.
“I’m so sorry, Cress,” I say, brushing a stray tear from her cheek.
Her face crumples as she shakes her head. “It’s fine. Really. He’ll come around. It’s Tyl, for fuck’s sake.”
I nod in understanding. “I know he will.”
We sit in silence for a few minutes, just watching the ocean in all its glory.
“Enough about me.” She swipes at her eyes. “How are you faring amongst the dead?”
“I am one of the dead.” I laugh. “But I love it here so far. I’ve been treated with far more kindness in this last day than in the twenty-three years I spent in Adelphi.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” Cress worries her lip in a way that can only mean one thing—she’s brought bad news. “Rory, there’s something you ought to know.”
“What is it?” I ask, searching her eyes but gleaning nothing.
“Your father’s inner circle of lords and ladies have banded together to appoint him as the new king of Adelphi, and he has asked every hunter and tracker across the five kingdoms to hunt you down and bring you to him. There are renderings of your likeness all over, offering a very hefty bounty. You must trust no one from your past life.” She swallows. “I’m sorry they won’t leave you be.”
I open my mouth. Close it. My father… a king?
A shiver dances along my spine at the unchecked power he now wields.
Are you all right? Quill asks. I feel your dread, your fear. What is it?
News of Adelphi.
“Rory?” Cress asks, tone dripping with concern.
I blink my mind clear. “What of Vivian?”
“It’s not good.” She fidgets in place. “Rumor has it she was granted the full powers of the First Hunter when you died… but they left her when you woke. She’s no longer moon blessed, but moon cursed. She’s vowed to stake you herself.”
“She can get in line,” I say with a sigh.
