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The portal opens and scorching air puffs into my face with a cloud of hot sand. Pyre seems unfazed by the harsh landscape. Baron and Aima come through next, simultaneously complaining about the heat. The vampire hisses and holds his middle finger up to the sun. With Pyre’s help, he’s learned to tolerate the sun, but that doesn’t mean he particularly enjoys the intense light.

I walk beside Aima, trying to gauge where she’s at mentally. Since she awakened in the Veil, I’ve watched her don a mask to hide her true feelings. “How are you faring?”

“Better than I expected.”

“Pyre told me where they found you,” I mutter. “Aima, if there’s anyone who understands what you’ve been through, it’s me. No one else has suffered greater at the hands of the Unseelie than the two of us.”

“I heard about the ritual Morrigan is trying, Cambion,” she spits the words back at me. “I know you think it’s me who’s required for it, so... no. You don’t know what I’m going through.”

“That ritual won’t come to pass,” I start.

Aima shakes her head. “It seems like I escape one ill fate only to be ensnared by another. What you’ve been through in Oronrelis nothing compared to what I’ve seen and felt at the hands of our people,” she barks at me and then takes a deep breath. “All I need is space.” She pauses to glance at me over her shoulder. “It’s nothing personal, and at the same time, it is. I need to find myself again, Cambion.”

“Well, I’m here if you need me.”

My feet sink into the sand as we trek through the dunes. Baron continuously asks if Pyre can cast a portal, no matter how many times the necromancer explains magic is different in the mortal realm. Flumph is truly no better with his complaining. Thankfully, Noni and I have enough decency not to bother Pyre as he navigates the unforgiving scorch of the Decolate Borders.

It takes three days to reach what appears to be a newly built mercenary outpost. A man with a red scarf over the lower half of his face aims a crossbow at us as we approach.

“Who are you and what do you want?” he demands.

“We are allies of Kolvar, Chieftain of the Banefire Horde,” Baron replies. “My companions and I are the Rebel Lords of The Vindication. We stand with all those who fight for freedom in the realms.”

“Aye, we know of The Vindication,” the man says as he lowers his weapon and steps aside. “Apologies,” he says. “Can’t be too careful after the last battle.”

The sentry whistles, and an armed escort appears, in order to take us to the entrance of the Mercenary Stronghold. Before we follow him, I turn back to the man. “Of what battle do you speak?” I ask.

The sentry looks at me as though he’s shocked I don’t already know.

“Lady Fulthain rode to theThrestwith a few hundred of our best. She successfully freed the fae and liberated that horrid place. There were losses, but we all sleep better at night knowing theThresthas been destroyed.”

That Eilish is accepted as a leader to these people is a thought I struggle for a moment to grasp.

The gate drops and Kolvar runs to Aima, sweeping her up into a welcoming embrace. I glance away to give them a moment of peace. Baron and I push forward with Pyre, Flumph, and Noni, headed toward the heart of the stronghold where we find a utopia of sorts. I can hardly believe my eyes as species that once warred with one another trade goods and exchange pleasantries.

Flumph’s eyes bulge out of his head. “The fucks goin’ on here? It ain’t right, I says.”

Kolvar catches up with us. “Come, my friends. Let me take you to the others.”

The large satyr guides us through the streets and stops just outside another gate. This one seems newly crafted—black, with a strange emblem on it I don’t recognize. Though most of the clans here are familiar enough to identify, this is one I haven’t seen before.

Kolvar unlocks the gate and lets us pass.

A moment later, Eilish walks out of a shadowed doorway with Dragan and another male gargoyle by her side. Just the sight of her is enough to make my heart beat faster. She sees us and her expression breaks into a huge smile.

For a second, I allow myself to hope she’s glad to see me. But she bypasses me as Baron throws his arms around her before kissing her in such a way that the rest of us suddenly feel uncomfortable. Dragan even clears his throat.

Eilish separates herself from Baron and pulls Pyre into a warm embrace, then Aima, and finally, she faces me.

“Cambion,” she says.

“Eilish,” I answer as I swallow hard. All eyes are on us both and it feels like an eternity passes before she takes the steps that separate us and she wraps her arms around me. It takes me a moment to bring my arms up to hold her—I’m so stunned.I didn’t imagine I would receive this type of warm reception. I thought she hated me. She holds me for a few heartbeats longer than everyone else.

“Dragan,” I say as I face the immense gargoyle who glares down at me.

“You’re alive,” he answers and then turns away from me, taking his place beside Eilish. He’s protective of her—he always has been, but now it seems even more so. He won’t leave her side and I notice, with interest, that Baron takes up her opposite side. Neither Baron nor Dragan have said one word to each other. I can’t help but wonder why.

Flumph all but mauls Eilish, climbing up and wrapping his small arms around her neck and squeezing. “You have no fuckin’ idea how happy I is to sees your face! It been hell livin’ with these damn giants.”