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And no Adelaide.

Just a locket she never takes off, cracked and discarded on the stone floor.

“Where. Is. She!” A scream tears from my throat.

Chapter 21

Adelaide

In confusion, I wake up, and I’m back at the spiraling steps, and when I reach the top, I’m met with silence.

But this time, I’m not dreaming.

My hand reaches toward the knob on the rose-covered door without hesitating.

Because no pain can be worse than what I just endured.

Thinking that Riven betrayed me.

Taking a deep breath, I open the door and step inside the empty room.

Instead of white, it’s all darkness.

I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t this.

The window is open. Slow blows in the open window, but I don’t shut it.

There is no more raven. No more threat.

And outside, I see a tiny sliver of the moon, which means the lunar eclipse has passed.

We did it. We defeated the evil queen on Winter Solstice.

But I’m right back in this tower.

“All alone.” On my birthday.

“You’re never alone.” Riven’s voice cuts through the blanket of silence. I turn to the open door just in time to see my hooded huntsman reaching for me. I fall into his arms because I know it’s where I belong.

Even though I was confused.

Even though I was angry.

Pieces of his wild black hair that pulled loose from his braid in the struggle fall into his face.

Stormy eyes from my dreams sear into me, seeing everything.

I’ve never felt so exposed.

I see the worry there, and I can see bruising on his face from where Luther must have got in a couple of hits.

His jaw clenches as he studies me, inspecting for injuries he won’t find, and he steps back.

Because the only wounds I had were on the inside, and he’s healing those kiss by kiss.

Neither of us says anything. A thousand words flash through my mind—angry ones, sad ones, words full of questions—but none come out of my mouth. The wind picks up, whipping around us as we remain frozen, rooted in place.

I want to reach out and comfort him, to feel his skin under my hands, but I need him to comfort me. I need his touch to remind me it wasn’t all a lie. That we had something. Could have been something. His eyes widen, waiting for what I’m going to say. So, I don’t say anything.