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“Technically,wefound them,” Hel said, and tilted his head to the right. Thane stepped from around Night’s broad body, and she grinned.

“Thane, you helped too?”

“Well, I wasn’t there but I remembered the song you used to sing to call them home.” Thane patted Night’s thick neck. “Hel said they came quickly to the tune.”

The click-clack of their hooves on the cobblestone was like music to her ears. She’d forgotten all about that song, though now she began to hum it. Starborn let out a puff of air and a quiet neigh. “Hi, babies. I’ve missed you.” She scratched Starborn’sforehead; it was his favorite, and gently pet Night’s soft cheek. “When did you do this?”

“Yesterday, while you were having breakfast with Katana,” Hel answered.

Starborn stretched his wings and tossed his head. That had been his signal he wanted to go for a ride. “You said you were checking on Synick.”

He smirked. “I did for a few minutes.”

Leif, Fennan, and Piper gathered near the door. “Do they truly have wings?” Fennan asked. “Or is it Hel’s magic?”

“They are her horses of legend,” Leif replied. “My Nana used to tell stories of them and how they’d fly her through the night sky in her golden chariot. On the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, they say she showered the sky with her stars. And every year if you watch the skies, you’ll see the bundle of shooting stars following her chariot.”

“Is that true?”

“Seen it myself many times. Not her, but the stars.”

“What Fennan means, was Valeen actually the one who brings the star showers?” Piper added. “She’s been gone for so long.”

“I did start that, yes.” Valeen smiled at them, resting her head against Night’s shoulder. “Starborn and Night must have carried on the tradition without me.”

Using her magic to lighten her weight, she sprung up onto his back and then laid against him. He smelled like the salty sea near her home in Runevale and the wild fields of House of Night. Oh, how she longed to go back there. Her throat tightened at the memory of the ruins. “I missed you.” Starborn neighed and popped up on his hind legs, slamming back down, and pawing at the stone. “I missed you just as much.” Her shadows slipped from her fingertips and slid along his back, brushing his hair from his eyes. “I promise we’ll go riding later, but I can’t rightnow. It’s my wedding day.” Starborn curled his top lip, baring his teeth, almost a smile, and Night bumped his muzzle into Hel and sniffed his hair. “They remember you.”

“Of course they do.” Hel chuckled and rubbed Night’s neck. “They’re intelligent.”

Slipping off Night, she jumped back into Hel’s arms and kissed him hard on the mouth. “Thank you so much. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

“I told you I’d find them.” He set her down and turned her by the shoulders to face Thane.

He took her hand, lifting it to his mouth and his lips lightly touched her skin. “Congratulations, Val.”

“Thank you for helping, Thane. Truly.”

“Everyone head back inside for cake,” Hel said, giving her and Thane a moment.

Thane’s eyes followed the others as they moved away, watching Katana in particular, and then he turned back to her. “I wouldn’t miss it. You’re the two most important people in my life.”

She frowned, looking down at his hand still holding hers. “Thane…”

“I truly am happy for you, Val, for both of you. You look beautiful. Even more than I imagined you would have.”

“Thank you.” In so many ways her romantic relationship with him felt like ending one of her journals and putting it on the shelf.

He wrapped her in a hug. There was no tension or unease, they were simply two friends who loved each other. He pulled back and adjusted the sleeves at his wrists. “I’ve kept you long enough.” He smiled at Hel over her shoulder. “Your bride is waiting for a dance, Hel.”

“I think there is another lovely goddess who is also waiting for a dance,” Hel smirked at Thane.

“But first we need to get these two somewhere.” Valeen made a clicking sound with her tongue. “Come on, Starborn, Night, let’s take you around back.” She couldn’t very well leave them out in the street. Winged horses didn’t exist in Adalon, and there were already a few onlookers down the road.

Back inside,romantic violin music played. Hel and Valeen shared their first dance while everyone watched. One of his hands rested low on her back, the other wrapped around her palm. The candles hovering above their heads gave off a subtle glow, bringing a moody ambiance. Valeen rested her cheek on his chest as they gently swayed to the tune.

“I hope this day is even more special than the last time,” he murmured. The rumble of his voice made her skin tingle.

“It’s more than I could have ever hoped for. Everyone I love is here.” Although now that he’d given her his wedding gift hers seemed wholly inadequate. “There’s something I wanted to give you but now that everyone has seen what you gave me…”