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“They will… It might take more time for one than the other, but they will.”
Reaching our floor, Finn splits off to his room and I slow my pace, lingering outside our bedroom door for longer than I care to admit. When I finally gather the nerve to push it open, I find Kai awake in bed.
“He lives,” I tease with a smirk. His neck nearly snaps as he whips his gaze toward the door, then bares his teeth as he flexes his stomach, attempting to get out of bed. “Stay, please. I’ll come to you.”
I unloop my sword, sitting it on the small table near the door, slipping off some of the heavier pieces of armor while I’m at it. “You did it…” he says, his voice horse.
“No…Wedid it. Michael’s dead, and I’m sure you’ve been filled in by now about the rest.”
“Not all,” he says, cringing as he tries to sit up more. “Did Finn make it–” The words leave him as he studies my face. Something there must give him the answer he’s looking for, even as I try to mask it, because he settles his chin to his chest. “I see…”
“I’m so sorry…” I’ve never had to console someone through the beginning of grief and for the life of me, I can’t think of anything else to say. “I wish there was more I could do.”
“Asmo?” he asks, not lifting his head.
“He’s alive. A nasty head wound, but alive.”
He nods. “Good… Well, I told you there would be two caskets going to the family crypt, but at the time, I had been referring to ours. I think it’s time my mother is officially laid to rest.”
Stepping up to the side of the bed, I take his hands in mine, not carrying that they’re bloody or that the skin on my knuckles is broken. “We’ll do whatever you feel is right…” My thumb strokes over his knuckles as a foreign feeling swims through my middle.Relief,in the fact we longer have this hanging over our heads any longer floats from him to me. “I’m just glad you’re alive. I’ve never been more scared in my life than finding you in that tent. I’m pretty sure I was vastly more terrifying than when you jumped off that cliff after me and washed up on the shore with broken wings.”
Kai doesn’t answer. Instead, his hand lifts to cup my face, pinching my chin to bring me closer so he can kiss my forehead. I collapse against his chest, breathing in the scent of sandalwood and lavender, pleased to hear his heart still beat in a smooth cadence in his chest.
“What do we do now?” I ask, my voice so quiet I fear he might not have heard it.
“We rebuild and we seal that fucking gate. More importantly, we live.”
42
Alice
“You shouldn’t be out of bed,” I say, watching Kai dress–a task he’s so sure he can do himself, even though just days ago he was speared by a dagger. Stitches still span in a thick line down his front and a smaller one in his back, just below his ribs.
“It’s been three days, Alice. I can’t just lay here. The kingdom is waiting for me to walk out that door. Besides, I made you a promise.” His fingers yank the shirt over his head, then quickly roll the sleeves up his forearms.
“You made two,” I say, standing to help him with his pants. He still has issues bending. I’m sure he’s capable of doing it, but if I can spare him the pain, I will. “One being that you’ll take care of yourself and not do things to slow the healing process.”
His eyes narrow at me, but he quickly drops the glare. “I know what I said.”
“You’re the most difficult patient… And you wonder why the healers cower when they step through that door.”
Dressed, he turns toward me, gently wrapping a finger into the waistband of my pants and tugging me forward, even though he cringes from the exertion. “I know my limits, but I love you for making me abide by them. I’m ready to get the hell out of this bed. What better way to do that than to take you to meet your parents.”
I open my mouth to protest, only to snap it back shut. “Fine…”
His lips tip into a smirk as he bends to kiss me. “I have a surprise for you.”
“You do?” I ask, whispering against his lips.
“Yes. Allister should be down stairs with them now. I thought they might want to join us.”
They?… They!My eyes light up as I drag his face to mine crushing our lips together. I don’t wait for Kai to catch up as I take off out of our room, sprinting down the hall. My feet fly down the steps to the spiraling staircase until I land in the foyer.
A glimpse of wavy red hair catches my eye in the throne room, a woman standing next to a dark-haired man. I’d recognize those cowboy boots anywhere. My feet slam to a halt in the entryway as my mind reels with what to say. Allister’s eyes meet mine over my aunt’s shoulder and my aunt turns, her bright eyes finding mine as my name leaves her lips.
My mind goes blank as I rush toward her, nearly taking her down with a bear hug. She pushes me back, smoothing my hair out of my face. I’ve been gone a year, but time moves differently on Earth. Her eyes meet mine and it takes me a moment to realize how much she’s aged, still she’s as beautiful as ever.
“I’ve missed you so much,” she says, her eyes filling with unshed tears. “I never got the chance… I want you to know that you are my daughter, regardless of anything I’ve ever said. I loved you like my own. I’m so sorry that I never had the nerve to say that.”
