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He radiated calm certainty, and his expression made it clear he would accept no other outcome.

“Thank you, Lorian. For everything.”

“You never have to thank me, Prisca.”

“At some point, when all of this is done, we need to talk.”

“We will.” He leaned down and brushed my hair back from my face. “I once told you thatuntil you faced up to the reality of your life, you would continue to be a victim to it. And my reality is this—I’m in love with you.”

I let out a strangled sound and his eyes crinkled at the corners, but his expression remained serious.

“You can’t be.”

“Yes, wildcat. I can.”

My breath hitched, and my mouth opened. He covered my mouth with one of his fingers. “Don’t say it back.”

I raised one eyebrow, and a hint of vulnerability flickered through his eyes. “When you say it…when youfeelit, and you will,” he said, as arrogant as ever, “I want you to be sure. I need that from you.”

He was fae. And if there was one thing Lorian had, it was patience.

Lorian had never had anyone choose him before—not because of his reputation or his position as fae prince or what he could do for them, but because of who he was.

And yet wecouldn’tchoose each other. As much as I’d begun to fantasize about a future with him, he belonged with his brother. His people. And I belonged with mine.

I’d been silent for too long. Lorian gave me a smile that dripped with promise. “We need to continue moving,” he said.

I glanced at Thol’s body, and my chest seized. Lorian stroked my hair. “We’ll come back for him. I promise.”

I nodded. I knew we couldn’t take him with us. As soon as we left this place, I would find a peaceful spot to bury him. Somewhere near the water.

Demos was waiting for us outside the cave. “Asinia?” I asked.

“With Cavis.”

“You might have to work on your rallying speeches,” I teased him.

Demos just looked at me. “Tibris would have said the right thing. He always knows what to say at such times.”

I reached out and squeezed his shoulder. “Tibris knew Thol well. He’ll be devastated when he learns what happened. But he has habit of only seeing the best in people. You’re able to see their strengths and weaknesses. It’s a good thing, Demos. Just…be gentle with Asinia.”

His mouth firmed. “The last thing that woman needs is coddling.”

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t want to hear about it when she gets her revenge.”

Lorian stepped up behind me, and Demos glanced at him.

“The hourglass has to be close,” Demos said. “Regner had his iron guards waiting there for a reason. If his plan had worked, we would all be dead.”

But Regner would also assume we would have at least one fae with us.

We were missing something. It itched at me. But I couldn’t understand what it could be.

Cavis and Asinia joined us. Her expression was carefully blank, whatever she was feeling locked away.

“I feel it too,” Cavis said. “Something doesn’t make sense.”

Asinia and Demos were carefully avoiding looking at each other, but they stepped into our agreed formation, ready to continue walking.