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Julius had brought along most of them when he’d dropped Gavin’s satchel here, but what they really needed was the healing one. Exactly the one that bastard had taken to survive.
“We have to leave this place in two days, Violet. Your mother can’t come with us.”
She knew this, didn’t she? “Thalea was the only one working to maintain this place. How is she going to survive here alone?”
“I can take her with me.” Mios’ voice came from the hall, right as he leaned against the doorframe. He crossed his massive arms over his chest, looking at Violet’s mother. “We will stay here until she’s stable, and then she can come with us to the Gold Kingdom. I’ll take care of her until I see you again.”
“You would do that?”
Mios’ smile was a flash she might have imagined. “I don’t have to travel across the kingdom to find the god atone for Lyra anymore. I’m heading back home.”
He looked at Gavin.
“I can send a letter to your family as well. Explain all that happened with Julius in Scoria. You ran from your wedding night. Undoubtedly, the Society of Crows will try to blame you for Marrion’s death.”
“Morgan’s,” Gavin corrected with an amused smile.
“Her, yes. Either way, what they asked of you is against your laws. I’m going to guess your people can fight them, especially if they are friendly with the King.”
Gavin’s face cleared of all exhaustion, and his expression filled with hope. He looked at Violet like a child who had just heard his wildest dreams might come true after all. It was enough to make her smile as well, even with everything that had happened.
“You are together, which is what they’re claiming you escaped from.” Mios shrugged. “But even if your King can’t set things right, the Lionborn live outside your magic-wielder laws. If you’re able to make it to my land—which I know is far away—you may see your family with no one bothering you. That I can promise you.”
“Thank you,” Gavin said, and the lion nodded, tapping the wood twice, before he turned around and walked back toward the living room. Violet could hear Roman’s rough voice in the background.
“Do you think we can do it?” she asked Gavin. “See your family?”
“Our family,” he corrected, and his words alone brought a rush of hope. She had no right to be feeling this way. “Yes.”
“I didn’t know you had met Roman.”
“I was friendly with his partner, Mars.” Gavin shrugged. “He was a well-known actor, and Mother loved him.”
Violet looked down at her mother’s sleeping form, and took a couple of sharp breaths. It was time to be strong and not fall apart, to forgive herself for all her wrongdoings. Because she’d tried her best, and learned so much.
She wasn’t perfect, and this had taught her a lesson she would never forget. She might still be mistrustful of strangers, but that didn’t mean she had to work alone.
Gavin’s hand landed on her shoulder, and he pulled her against him, reading her like she was an open book. She molded herself to his chest, enjoying the soft hints of her mother’s lavender soap which clung to his skin. “Thalea is fine, Violet. Wherever she is going, she is alive. I trust that we will see her again.”
“You don’t know that for sure.” Still, his words brought her a kind of peace.
“I don’t, but I believe it to be true. It all happened too fast, but when Dargan saw her bound, he seemed upset.”
For three years, Violet had been special. The God of Shadows had wanted her, and she’d hated every damn minute of it.
Her little sister had saved her from that fate. A family of women willing to sacrifice themselves for those they loved. Violet wished she could reverse the whole thing. Maybe a part of her would forever stay angry at life—and at her own choices. But today, as the sun rose behind the horizon of the silver ocean, she was grateful.
For once, she had a future. She’d had the chance to see Thalea again for a few days and met the wonderful, selfless woman she had grown up to be. These last few months had taught her many things. To be wary of false friendships. To fall in love and trust once again.
That power only corrupted people who let it—and wasn’t Mios’ offer the best proof of that.
But mostly, she now knew how lucky she was.
Most craved to be special, and yet all she’d ever wanted was to be normal. Whatever that was. The opportunity to have a life with Gavin was something Thalea had given her, and she would never take it for granted. She didn’t want to be chosen ever again. Not unless the person making that choice was Gavin Luna.
Only then would she be fine with being the one.
* * *
