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Saylah nodded, still scarcely moving. “I returned with the spirit animals this world knows of. I did not know that while I was gone, Gehenna was sent here. I did not know that she had stolen the lock and brought it here for Moranna. I did not know until it was too late. Not until it was decided to put up the Wards.

“The Wards had been part of our plans. We would regroup. Give the Avonleyans a moment to breathe. Then we would bring the Wards down and claim victory. I would see this world restored to peace before I left for good. The Avonleyan King gave his life as part of the enchantment to enact the Wards, willingly paid the cost for his people. He did not have children. His husband was killed in the war, as was his brother. Which left his nephew to assume the throne.

“Except Gehenna had learned of our plans while I was away. She altered the enchantment, and when the Wards went up, the gateway was sealed. I could not leave. The spirit animals could not leave. I could no longer spare this world, and more than that, we did not know how to take down the Wards. They were only meant to be up for a year, two at most, while we prepared. The Avonleyans became separated from the Fae, weakened to a point of sure surrender. The Fae that were here Faded early, part of the enchantment that Gehenna had altered. The spirit animals could move among the Wards because of what they are, but even their power is a fraction of what it used to be. And my power? The gods emerged from the Chaos. That is where our power comes from. By being stuck here, I am cut off from the most powerful sources of Chaos. My power is not as mighty as it should be.

“The spirit animals were bonded with the Fae Royalty to give them as much protection as I could. The Sorceress was found and imprisoned, but she would not tell Eliné and Henna of the lock. The Shifters and Witches were given gifts to aid the Fae because we could not, and, again, for a while, it seemed they would be victorious. Until Deimas created his own wards, giving his life to do so. But even then, with Deimas gone, there were several decades of quiet after that. The mortals rebuilt, creating the three kingdoms you know now. Esmeray had seemingly disappeared, assumed to have died with Deimas. The other territories settled into their own way of life. And your father and I? He did not know what I was. My secret had died with his uncle, but he knew I was something other. He was relentless, digging until he learned the truth. Another trait I am told you also have.”

Scarlett’s chin was resting on her knees once more as she listened to Saylah’s story. She didn’t look up when she spoke of her father. Just kept her eyes fixed on the sea before her.

“Tethys was strong-willed and uncompromising in so many ways, but he was loved by his people. He knew how to lead, how to fight, how to love. He was everything. We became something more. The world seemed to have calmed. The realm was locked. No way in, and no way out. For the first time in my long life, I wanted more and did not feel foolish for wanting it. Cethin was born, and with his birth, we learned how wrong we had been about everything.”

Scarlett hugged her knees tighter, so many thoughts and feelings going through her, she couldn’t sort them all out. It was enough turmoil to rouse Sorin as his voice echoed down their twin flame bond.

Love? Cethin said you are with Saylah.

I am. I’ll be back soon.

Are you all right?

It took her a moment before she could answer.I don’t know.

Saylah began speaking again after a moment. “As you know, things escalated when Esmeray reemerged and killed the Fae Royals. We learned Alaric had found a way in and was bringing more. Tethys and I knew we needed to do something, and I spent many decades searching for answers. We wanted to leave. To draw the war from this world, hoping the Maraans would follow. I was what they were after. Me and my own. But we could not leave without the lock. The day I learned you were growing in my womb was the day we became desperate. Your father would have given anything to keep you and your brother safe. Hedidgive everything.”

“Why did I have to be on another continent for this?” Scarlett asked in a hoarse whisper. “Why was it necessary to get me out?”

“I needed to find the lock. It was, and still is, the only way to get you and Cethin out. The one person who knew where it had been hidden was locked away beneath the Black Halls. I went to see Gehenna. She is the one who told me how to find the lock.”

“So how am I the only one who can find it now?”

She felt Saylah’s gaze fix on her again. “You know the answer to this. I told you when you came to Shira Forest. But you were right that night too, Daughter. You are a god here. Not my god, like you claim. Not like Anala or Silas or any of the others. But to this realm? You may as well be one. There is no one more powerful aside from me.”

“And if I do not wish for such a thing?”

“It is already done. When you took your first breath. It is why you were delivered with the Witches.”

“And I had to be left there alone because?”

“I did not leave you there alone. I left you with Eliné.”

“My mistake,” Scarlett retorted bitterly.

“You were not meant to be left there as long as you were,” Saylah said. “There was a plan to awaken your gifts when you reached age sixteen. She was to help you find the lock, and then return here. But when Eliné died…”

Scarlett glanced at Saylah when she paused. She could swear there were tears glimmering in her eyes.

Saylah lightly cleared her throat. “When I learned of Eliné’s death, I assumed you had met the same fate. I had no way of knowing otherwise. It was not until Cethin unknowingly found his way into your dreams that I learned you still lived, and by then, everything had changed.”

“Why?”

“Because the Maraans had you. Knew what you carried.”

“I don’t understand,” Scarlett said, digging her toes into the sand. “What do I carry?”

“That is enough for now,” Saylah replied. “Your heart is already too heavy this night.”

“So you decided to add to it and leave me with more questions? What was the purpose of this visit, Saylah?”

“To let you know I understand sacrifice and loss. To help you understand why all this is necessary,” she answered. “To tell you of your father, who was pure goodness and light. He cared deeply for his people. You and Cethin got that trait from him. I will not pretend that any of that goodness came from me. But I am glad you still feel, Scarlett. It is a dreadful thing to become so numb to loss that you no longer feel the cost of such things. I am glad you found your way back before you lost that light for good.”