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Larylis lifted a shoulder in a fatigued shrug. “Whatever it takes.”
“But…what will we tell people?” Her eyes flicked back to the meadow. “No one will believe what happened here.”
Cora took a step closer to them. “We’ll tell the truth. Maybe not to the public, but to those we trust.”
Larylis furrowed his brow. “Are you sure that’s wise? Our council will think we’re crazy.”
“Then let them,” Cora said. “I’m tired of lying about magic. I’m tired of hiding the truth and pretending I’m something I’m not. We defeated a sorcerer. A beast. Magic exists in this world, both dark and light. It’s time we stop hiding that.”
Mareleau and Larylis didn’t seem convinced, but it didn’t matter. They could do what they wished, and so would Cora. She was Queen of Khero now. Kevan and Ulrich were no longer around to control her. To tell her what she was and wasn’t qualified to do. The peace pact was broken, as were its constraining terms. She didn’t need anyone’s permission to rule her kingdom.
She owed it to her brother to be queen.
She owed it to herself to be a witch.
She was both, and she wouldn’t shy away from either. Not anymore.
Larylis extended a hand to his wife. “Come. We must hurry.”
They managed to heft the four corners of the pallet between them. Even Mareleau’s three ladies managed to assist, which Cora was grateful for. With her shoulder wounded, she had but one arm to use, and even that pulled on the hastily bound lesion. Their slow pace made Cora’s nerves coil tight. Every second that ticked by was one Teryn endured without proper care. She kept her eyes on his face, his chest, thanking the Mother Goddess for every breath that left his lips. Her relentless focus on him prevented her mind from straying to topics she had even less control over.
Like Valorre.
Her heart ached whenever she thought of him. Whenever she recalled how he’d left the Veil, terrified that he’d forget her.
She understood what had been missing now, why he hadn’t come back. He’d only needed the magic of his horn to exit the fae realm, just like she’d only needed her magic to leave El’Ara. It was as Fanon had said: the Veil had been woven to keep worldwalkers from entering, not from leaving. But while she and Valorre had been able to leave with their own magic, they’d needed each other to enter. Without his horn paired with her worldwalking ability—a combination the Veil couldn’t account for—he hadn’t been able to get back in.
Either that or…
He’d forgotten her.
Stupid.
The voice flooded her heart, her mind, sending her pulse speeding. She was so shocked, she nearly dropped her side of the pallet.Valorre?
You are stupid to think I would forget you. My memory is mightier than that.
She nearly wept as she felt his presence. She couldn’t see him, but she could feel his proximity. He was drawing closer by the second.How did you get here?
His smug façade faded away, replaced with genuine concern.As soon as I crossed the Veil, it disappeared. There was no wall. Only forest in our world. I knew you’d find a way out, so I tried to return home, to where you’d go. I’ve been running for a day, trying to get here, but I was lost. I didn’t know where the Veil had brought me.
He’d been running for a day. To her, it had only been hours since she’d left El’Ara.How did you find your way?
She found me. Led me in the right direction.
She?
In answer, a rhythmic beat pulsed in the air. Cora glanced up in time to see Berol making her descent toward the pallet. Sera squealed, pulling her hands from the pallet as Berol landed on one of the wooden carrying posts.
“There you are,” Larylis said. Though he tried to grin, the expression was strained. Empty. “Where have you been?”
Her wings were splayed as she shuffled down the length of the pallet until she reached Teryn’s face. She tilted her head side to side, a barrage of frantic chirps erupting from her beak. She hopped from the post to the canvas, then gave Teryn’s cheek a tentative peck, right over the fading scar that marred his flesh. There was something apologetic in the way she nipped at him. Had Berol given him that wound? Perhaps after Morkai had taken possession? Cora recalled how the falcon had brought Larylis’ letter to her in the tower room instead of Teryn.
She nibbled his cheek again, this time a little harder. Cora was almost of a mind to shoo her away lest she injure him, but a soft smile flicked over Teryn’s lips. “Berol.” His voice was soft, a creaking whisper.
“He’s awake!” Larylis pulled up short, forcing the rest of them to stop as well. Slowly, they lowered the pallet to the ground. The rain had ceased, and the morning sun was just beginning to peek through the clouds.
Cora ran to his side and brushed his silver hair off his forehead. “Teryn.”
