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A month of darkness, and now I felt as if the sun were lighting me up from within.
Even after several hours, my heart hadn’t slowed its unrelenting hammering. The wind slid over us, carrying with it the scent of molten rock and ashes.
I sighed. “If I go home to Shalini’s apartment, what do you think the chances are that I’ll find Aeron there, too?”
“Quite high, I should think. Assuming Orla is ruling in my absence.”
I bit my lip. “What do you mean?”
“Only the monarch of Faerie can grant someone permission to leave or return.” His deep voice rumbled from his chest. “And I haven’t been there to grant permission.”
“So, if I wanted to pop by for a visit, I’d need to ask you first?”
“Ava, my love.” His voice sounded husky, ragged. “You won’t be able to visit Faerie. The curse doesn’t work here, but it will in my kingdom. You can’t be around me in Faerie.”
I felt as if shards of glass pierced my chest. What I understood the most right now was that I wasn’t ready for this to end. “Sure.”
“But if you return home, Ava, and you realize that you want someone to drive a sword through Andrew’s throat, please send word to me, will you? I do believe I can murder him without consequences.”
“Thanks. Pretty sure I can do my own killing now.” My voice sounded small, and a heaviness weighed on my chest. “Did you hear what Mab said? She said some bitter Seelie crone is the reason you’re all cursed. Modron—the one who looks back. She said if you kill her, the curse would be lifted.”
“Do you believe her?”
I took a deep breath. “Mab is a terrible person. But I really don’t think she lies.”
By the time we reached the ruined temple by the riverside, morning rays pierced the leaves, igniting themwith the first blush of dawn. Flecks of honeyed light danced over the ruined stones of the temple, columns of stone and a crumbled roof open to the sky.
Torin tugged the horse’s reins, slowing her to a halt outside the temple. He dismounted first, then gripped me around the waist to lift me off.
I stared down at my bloodstained, dirty body and took a quick plunge into the river, washing off the grime, the blood, and gods knew what else. I drank a few palmfuls of its clear water. I’d never take water for granted again. But I didn’t have much time to waste here, so I stepped out again.
Hope lit me up as we crossed into the temple. At the far end of the truncated columns, an altar stood. Just as Cala had said, a mirror hung above an empty forge, beaming with morning rays of light. My chest unclenched as I stared at it. At last, I’d be freeing Torin from this place.
I turned back to him, his perfect features gilded by morning light. Only now did I have the space to think about what this would mean, and a lump rose in my throat. This would be the last time we’d see each other. Or at least the last time we’d touch, until sometime in the future when we no longer felt the incandescent heat of love.
“Go on,” I rasped. “Just say the name of the place you want to travel to.”
Torin turned to the mirror, hands planted on either side of it. My heart cracked, and I sucked in a deep breath.
“You should go first.” He turned back to me.
I shook my head. “Go.” Because there was one more thing I wanted to do, and I wasn’t sure that he would approve.
He brought his hand up to my cheek. “This is the last time I can touch you, Ava. I know we need to leave here, but I just need a little more time.”
My heart started to race, and I tried to sense the vibrations of oncoming horses or soldiers through the soil. I didn’t feel anything.
“Of course, I’ve thought you were beautiful since the first time I met you,” he said, “but it changed into something else when I saw you in the tournament, letting Eliza get hits in on you just to save her honor. You hardly knew her, and the Seelie hadn’t given you the warmest welcome…that was the moment I knew I was lost for you. And I should have stopped it then. I should have ended it all, called off the marriage.”
My throat was tight. “There’s no point in punishing yourself for decisions you made in the past, Torin. All we can do is move forward. We’re both alive, and that seems like a miracle right now.”
“I can’t leave you without kissing you one last time.” A jagged edge of sorrow cut through his voice.
He leaned down, lips hovering over mine. He slid one hand into my hair, threading it between his fingers. He pressed his lips against mine, and my back flattened against the cold stone wall.
One last time…
The words hummed through my heart like a bittersweet song. A final kiss, a final embrace.
