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Razik slid his gaze to her.What about it?

If we wanted to spend some nights there, I wouldn’t be entirely opposed.

She could swear his eyes darkened.And the rest of the time?

They hadn’t really discussed this much. Where they would live at the end of this. She would need to be in the Fire Court, and he would need to be in Avonleya. Logistically, it made more sense for Razik to stay in the Fire Court with her. He was the one who could easily Travel, and with the Wards about to come down, it wouldn’t be complicated anymore. But…

She hadn’t been back to that cave since they’d accepted the twin flame bond, and she found herself missing the stupid place.

A godsdamn cave.

I guess we split our time between the two. As long as we’re together.

So you did miss me.

She gave him a flat look, but before she could respond, Scarlett drew both their attention back to her as she began calling Chaos to her palms, darkness growing and pooling.

“So she just has to funnel Chaos into the Marks? That’s it?” Eliza asked, head tilting as she watched.

“That’s it?” Razik repeated. “Everything has been leading up to this moment, and you say ‘that’s it?’”

He had a point. If they hadn’t found this lock, Scarlett wouldn’t have this power, and the Wards wouldn’t be coming down.

She sighed. “Will there be more required of the High Queen to take down these Wards, or will she finally catch a godsdamn break?”

“This will work. If anyone has to give anything more for this, it will be Cethin.”

“This will work, Razik,” she said quietly.

His lips just pressed into a thin line, and he gave a tight nod.

Scarlett was pouring Chaos into the Marks she’d drawn, and it was taking more power than Eliza had expected. These Wards were extraordinary. It wasn’t hard to believe they came from gods and goddesses as Scarlett gave and gave.

Finally, minutes later, she dropped to her knees, the power flaring out. Sorin was instantly there, tilting her face up to his. She was pale, her silver eyes dull and more blue than silver. Eliza hadn’t seen her this drained since she had become a World Walker.

“We should be able to see it,” Razik muttered.

“See what?” Eliza asked, still distracted by her friend.

“There is always mist along the shores, but we should be able to see the Nightmist Mountains.”

“Can you Travel in?”

“That was not the agreement. I was to wait here until Cethin and Kailia Traveled out and crossed where the Wards had been.”

“But what if—”

She stopped speaking when the air shifted in front of them, ashes swirling and Kailia appearing.

Razik’s eyes narrowed. “Where is Cethin?”

“He is coming,” she said. “But I…”

Her amber gaze cut to Eliza, and she wasn’t sure what was happening. She’d never seen the female so unsure. Razik clearly understood what was happening though. He brushed a light kiss to Eliza’s temple before he unwound his arm from her and reached for the Avonleyan Queen. “Come here, Lia.”

Kailia was instantly in his arms. She was tiny and petite the way it was, but next to Razik, she appeared even smaller. This fierce female who could summon deathstone at will was clinging to Razik as she waited to see if her husband survived this.

His family. He had told her that he, Cethin, and Kailia were close, but she had never realized that they were a unit as much as the Fire Court Inner Court was. A small smile tilted on her lips as she watched Razik comfort Kailia while they both waited for their king to appear.