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“I am, and I have something for you,” she said.

Seraphina watched curiously as Avenay reached into her bag and brought out a water skin. Junie had said a few drops would be enough, but she didn’t want to take any chances. She handed it to her. “Drink this, all of it.”

Seraphina laughed. “Well, alright then. I hope it’s wine.” She took a gulp and made a face. “It’s only water, Avie. Though…” She took another drink. “Tastes like nectar and…” She took another and another until she was gulping it down, ravenous for it.

When she finished, Avenay stared at her, looking for any signs of healing. Seraphina gave her a confused frown. Avenay’s throat constricted, her body tense as so many pent-up emotions rolled through her. Then she began weeping. Weeping and weeping.

“Oh, dear!” Seraphina said, taking Avenay’s hands in her own. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, nothing at all,” Avenay said, then choked out a laugh.

She watched through her tears as her sister’s skin regained color, her eyes lightened, her dry skin became smooth, and a glow returned to her sallowness that hadn’t been there before.

She jumped off the bed and ran to get the small mirror off the vanity. She took it back to her sister and watched Seraphina’s expression as she took in her appearance and strength.

“How do you feel?” Avenay asked.

Seraphina looked at her in disbelief, then hastily stood, steady on her feet like she hadn’t been for years. She started laughing and sobbing like Avenay. She grabbed Avenay and hugged her with a strength she hadn't had for years.

“Avie! Oh Avie, you found it! You found Cirro and the cure?”

Avenay nodded, too choked up to speak. They wept in each other’s arms for a while, time passing in a way she couldn’t measure and didn’t care, anyway. Because now she had so much time with Seraphina. So many years, so many memories to make.

She pulled back to look her sister over again. Seraphina’s cheeks were streaked with tears and Avenay brushed them away.

“Thank you, Avie. I can’t believe it. It feels like a dream.”

“I know,” Avenay said. “But it’s real. It’s always been real.”

A knock sounded on the door frame, and Cyrus appeared, with Enid peeking behind. Seraphina exclaimed joyously, breaking into a run, heading straight for Cyrus and flinging her arms around him. He held her with a struck expression, emotion swimming in his eyes.

“You truly feel well?” Cyrus asked, hope so evident on his face that Avenay ached to see it. She went to Enid, who stood awkwardly at the door, a grin on her face. She took her hand and walked forward. Seraphina looked from one to the other, a sly look on her face.

“Oh my, is this Lady Enid?” she asked. “The female you’ve been absolutely besotted with for forever?”

Enid raised her brows, amused.

Avenay glared at Seraphina. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“She was so sad when you didn’t come to the last few political summits with your brother,” Cyrus—the traitor—said.

Enid chuckled. “Well, the feeling is mutual.”

Avenay gazed up at her, eyes shining, wanting to get lost in the love she saw there, gulp it down and drown in it. She looked back at Seraphina. Her heart glowed, her being lit up with joy and peace she hadn’t known in years.

Everything was alright. Everything would be alright.

Avenay’s hands shook as she stared at the ornate double doors. A calloused hand slipped into hers as Enid came next to her.

“It’ll be fine,” she said.

It had taken only an hour for Avenay to be back in Lesern before she received a summons from Ilu and the other archangels of the city. News traveled fast. The summons had stated that if she didn’t report to the palace in two hours, she would be brought in by force.

“I know,” she said, squeezing Enid’s hand. “It was worth it. Even if I’m arrested.”

A low growl rumbled from Enid’s chest, the sound making heat coil in Avenay’s lower belly. “If they try to arrest you, then I’ll kidnap you and start a war. I really don’t think they want that.”

Avenay scowled at her. “Don’t you dare.”