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I wasn't sure how to answer that. I knew he wanted me to tell him I was, and that the Winter Court was home, but I wasn't sure I could say that yet.
"I'm ready to get back to my nest," I said finally. I knew he saw through my hesitation, and understood the reason for it. I also knew he'd do whatever it took to make Lysarial home for me. He squeezed my hand as we walked through the door together out into the open hallway.
As Cavan said, Hycanthe and Jezalyn were waiting there with two other omegas, a few guards and, to my annoyance, Dalyth.
"These three haven't finished their training," Cavan said. "I'm sure you'll agree it's important they keep up with that." He didn't look like he cared too much whether Ryze agreed or not. Like me leaving wasn't negotiable, neither was this.
"On the condition she returns here the moment they're ready," Ryze said. He turned away before anyone could argue, and opened a portal.
The same as the first one I ever saw him make, this one wound around a bend, the end disappearing out of sight. Garial and Lysarial were obviously a great distance apart.
Ryze pushed me gently towards Tavian and Vayne. "Stay near them. You three go through first. Cavan and I will go through last, so we can keep an eye on each other."
Cavan nodded, apparently satisfied with that arrangement. What would it take for those two to trust each other? Would they ever? They might need to, sooner or later.
Evidently, today was not that day.
To my surprise, Vayne took my other hand. The three of us stepped through together.
In spite of having done this before, I still expected it to be cold inside the portal. Like always, it was warm all the way through until we stepped out the other side. Not into the sitting room at the palace in Lysarial, as I expected, but rather in a yard near the kitchen.
We hurried to move out of the way of everyone else coming through.
I glanced around, half expecting to see Zared come running out to greet us. Possibly to stab Dalyth and Cavan for sending him away. Of course, he wasn't here. He was a long way from Lysarial. Closer now, according to the bond, but still too far from me.
"It's nice to be back here," Tavian said. He and Vayne seemed to be scanning the area, looking for trouble or anything out of place.
As far as I could tell, none of the buildings were melted, exploded, imploded, or otherwise impacted in any way. Everything looked just how we left it.
By twos and threes, everyone stepped through the portal. Ryze and Cavan still looked at each other dubiously until Ryze closed the portal.
"Would you like to get settled first, or shall we get straight to the library?" Ryze was asking Cavan.
"I see no reason to wait," Cavan said.
Ryze nodded. "I didn't think you would." He waved one of his staff over and told them to take care of Jezalyn and the omegas. And to find separate accommodation for Dalyth. Clearly he had no intention of taking her into the library.
She scowled, but went quietly when Cavan gave her a nod.
Another member of staff took everyone's packs. The rest of us headed to the library.
"This is impressive," Cavan admitted once we stepped inside. He tilted his chin and looked around, taking everything in.
"Everything is bigger and more impressive in the Winter Court," Ryze remarked.
Cavan snorted softly and continued his appreciation of the shelves and shelves of books.
Ryze shrugged to us and placed his hands on his hips. "Now, the maps are in this section."
Cavan had pulled a book off the shelf and was looking at it with raised eyebrows. "I didn't realise Winter Court Fae were as adventurous as those of us from the Summer Court."
"We're not," Ryze said absently, as he scanned the racks. "We're much more adventurous. Aren't we, Tave?"
"I don't know," Tavian admitted. "I don't have any experience with anyone from the Summer Court.” To Cavan he said, "Are you offering?"
Cavan's eyes slid to me. He gave me a smile which clearly said he'd extend me the offer any time.
My pulse actually fluttered.
