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“Jeddak, I—” Before she could finish, her gaze dropped to my collarbone. “Wait, why do you still havethat?” she asked, her eyes narrowing.

I glanced down at the gap in my shirt. She was staring at the spider tattoo that was still there, looking like a healed burn.

“Shouldn’t it have faded away when the White Widow died?” she said.

A chill ran down my spine. I’d thought the same thing. “I guess not,” I said, careful to mask the uncertainty in my tone. “Maybe the spell disappears but the mark remains.” We’d both seen the White Widow fall to her death and her spells broken. So, why did I have a strange feeling she was still lurking somewhere close by?

Raven nodded, though I wasn’t sure if either one of us was convinced. “So, I guess this means that, um—I’m assuming—that you’re not still married?”

I ran my hand through my hair. “I sure hope not.”

“Technically, you’re awidower,” Kah said to me. “Because of the WhiteWidow. See?”

Raven’s eyes lit up as the first rays of sunlight kissed the snow-covered valley below us. This was the best place in all of Askeland to watch the sunrise, and after the slew of terrible things that had happened since she arrived, I wanted her to see the beauty of my homeland.

“So, is that all you wanted to tell me?” she asked.

There was much more I wanted to say, but now wasn’t the time. “I actually brought you here to meet someone,” I said. I reached out and gently took her hand, steeling myself for her to pull away. When she didn’t, relief washed over me as I led her back inside. Though it wasn’t much, feeling her hand in mine felt significant. Like an unspoken promise.

Approaching us from across the great hall was an older woman, her long, silver hair woven into a thick braid that trailed down one shoulder. Beside her was a dusty-gray bear with a wise twinkle in her round eyes. “Raven, I’d like you to meet my grandmother. This is Grandmere Bear and her bear, Zera.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Raven said.

“My grandson’s told me you’ve traveled far to get here,” Grandmere said, the skin around her eyes crinkling as her lips curved into a warm smile. “Welcome to Askeland.”

“I told Grandmere about the malarite poisoning and your lost magic. She thinks she can help you,” I said.

“It would be my honor, child,” Grandmere said, taking both Raven’s hands in hers, being gentle with her bandage. “Come with me.”

Raven beamed as my grandmother led her away, turning back just for a moment to mouth the wordsthank you.

49

Raven

When I left Grandmere Bear, I strolled through the gardens terraced into the side of the mountain. At this time of year, the plants were dormant, but the fresh layer of snow made everything seem vibrant and enchanting.

I wandered to a rock outcropping that overlooked the city and valley beyond. I found a place to sit and inhaled deeply. With the snow clouds gone, the sky was crystal blue, and the air was cool and crisp. From up here, I could see the very northern edge of the Forgotten Forest. It looked deceptively peaceful from here.

My mind drifted to Hen.I miss you, I mouthed. Even though the sharp ache in my heart had dulled, I wondered if the hole her death left in me would ever fully heal. She would always be a part of me. She was the spark that kept the fire in me burning when I might have given up long ago.

“So?” A voice came from behind me.

“So, what?” I said, suppressing the smile blooming on my face. He was trying to be stealthy, but I’d heard the beating of his wings on the wind.

“So, can you fly again? Can you read the map?”

I looked over my shoulder to see Skyler standing behind me. He’d left early in the morning after the wedding when he’d received word that Bloodbain wasn’t among the captured or slain Rathalans. He must not have been dead like I’d hoped.

“Do you happen to know everything that’s going on in Askeland?” I said with a smirk. I hadn’t had a chance to tell him about going to see Grandmere Bear, so he must have seen me leaving her place.

“Just when it pertains to you,” he said, removing the bow slung across his back and sitting beside me. “So?”

“So … it’s complicated,” I said with a sigh. “Grandmere Bear healed my hand and the damage that was done by the malarite …”

“But?”

“But it didn’t restore my magic. She doesn’t think it was the malarite that erased it.” I pushed up my sleeve to look at the fourth feather tattoo on my arm again. “She thinks this mark contains a spell that’s suppressing my memoriesandmy magic.” I tried to hide the disappointment in my voice, though I know Skyler heard it.