Page 375

Taly leaned into him.And at some point, the press of their bodies became about more than comfort. She was suddenly aware of his hardness and his heat as he held her tighter.

There hadn’t been much space for intimacy during her recovery. Aiden had only cleared her this morning, and even then, she’d had to beg.

Turning in his arms, Taly went to her toes to brush her mouth against his. He groaned, low and rough, deepening the kiss as his hands moved to map the contours of her body. Gentler than she would’ve liked but as a condition of that clearance, Aiden had made them both promise not to break anything he’d have to put back together.

With one last kiss, she pulled away. “Em—”

His mouth caught hers, and he drew her back in. She whimpered. It had been a very long recovery.

“Em,” she tried again. “I love you, and I appreciate everything you’ve done for me these weeks. But I am leaving this house. Get out of my way, or I’ll remove your balls from your body. Your choice.”

He smiled against her mouth. “It really shouldn’t make me this happy when you threaten me with physical violence.”

“You aredeeplystrange,” she said into the kiss.

“Welcome back, feisty.” He finally let her go. And landed a swift, playful smack on her rear, drawing a startled yelp as he followed her down the stairs without further complaint.

Gravel crunched as they strode along the pathway leading around the side of the townhouse, the hot summer sun beating down on top of them. After spending so long in darkness, the colors looked sharper, more vibrant.

“A beautiful day to surrender yourself to the mob,” Sarina grumbled, falling in beside Skye. “Are we sure about this?” she asked him.

Taly opened the garden gate. “Yes, Sarina. We are.”

“Surely, there’s no need to push yourself,” she went on. “Nobody would think less of you if you needed more time—”

“I don’t need time,” Taly said. By now, she’d had more than enough of it. Time to cry, time to get angry, time for her wounds to heal.

Ivain was already waiting by the front gates when they approached, looking as anxious as the others. “I really think we should reconsider this.”

Taly simply smiled while reaching past him to the security panel. The enchantments hummed as they disengaged, slithering over her skin like smoke as she wrapped her hand around the handle of the smaller pedestrian gate. “Did you or did you not say that Kalahad wanted to see me?”

“I meant when you were ready.”

“I’m ready now. It’s going to be fine. I promise,” she added with a kiss to his cheek.

Ivain sighed, not so much in defeat as resignation, stepping aside as she yanked open the gate.

Outside, the crowd hushed.

“Oh look,” Taly said. “People.”

At least a hundred stood waiting in the street for them. Well,her. The time mage.

Ivain had tried chasing them away, but they just kept coming back. People gathered, to catch a glimpse, or maybe to crucify her? She wasn’t sure what the general mood of the city was in the aftermath.

Taly stepped beneath the arch of the gateway. Her family followed her in a tight, anxious line. She stopped a few feet from the crowd, staring at them as they stared at her.

It had happened—the absoluteworstthing that could happen. And yet… she was still here. Not whole, not triumphant, but free, in a way. Whatever came next, she would live, fight, and die exactly as she was.

Taly stepped into the crowd. She kept her chin high. She wanted them to see her face, all of it. The arched brows, hollow cheeks, and strange Fey eyes.

She wanted them to see that she was not broken.

The crowd parted in utter silence, creating a path as they moved through. The first time it happened, Taly thought it was a fluke—an accidental brush to her shoulder as people continued to split around them, like water flowing around a stone.

But another hand touched her shoulder.

Then another.