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I would never know.

But Ididknow I needed sleep.Somehow.I forced myself to breathe, just breathe. And if I couldn’t sleep, the least I could do was rest.

Rest is good.

My tears had dried to my cheeks when I next stirred, something warm against my side. Inhaling, I caught the scent of something familiar, like a bonfire…

“Ninti!” I gasped, sitting up in bed.

Even curled up tight, the firewolf in her true form filled my bed. Unable to stop myself, I tried to wrap my arms around her. My hands fell right through, finding no fur. Only heat. Understanding tightened in my chest.

This was her astral projection, the same way she’d appeared to me as a child. Swallowing back my disappointment, I marveled that she was even here.

The firewolf glowed, ruby red and far healthier than the last time I’d seen her. Where she’d been tired and dull, she was vibrant and orange, more than recovered. There was even a sparkle to her eyes.

She inched her nose to my hand, and I adjusted to face her better, wishing I could scratch her. “Thank you for helping me save Zayne from Gloom,” I whispered.

She lifted her chin without answering.

“You can’t speak?” I asked. “Still recovering?”

She nodded, offering only a dull, apologeticwoof.

I had so many questions, and my chest tightened with their weight. Even if Ninti wanted to join me, Leo could slow her down. I struggled, searching for a way to ask,Will I ever see you again?

Before I found the words, she leaned closer, our foreheads touching if she were really there. Steadily, her warmth settled my worries.

Now wasn’t the time for questions.

We were together. That had to be enough.

Relaxing, I lay back down as Ninti curled behind my back, filling most of the bed. Her heat pressed against me even if she had no weight, and with her reassurance, sleep drifted closer.

As my dreams settled on my horizon, I reached through the tether, seeking out Zayne’s heartbeat.

Ba-bump.

Dawn neared and music streamed from not that far away, but the rhythm filled me, reminding me that even if I was the Starlit Princess, alone in a sea of fears, that wasn’t quite true.

Ba-bump.

Ninti’s warmth shifted at my back.

I’d never be alone again.

Epilogue: The Mother

Nintithefirewolf

Ayla’s breathing deepened as she succumbed to sleep, and I lingered a little longer, thankful to have found the strength to appear in my astral form. She’d been relieved to see me, and I was desperate to reassure her.

Still, exhaustion clung to my every waking moment, everything so much harder than it used to be. It had been nothing short of a miracle that I found the strength to help Ayla reach Zayne.

It was one of several miracles I’d seen lately.

And we’d need even more in the time to come.

Ayla was now tethered to both Zayne and the Starlit Throne. Both bonds were jealous and neither would be inclined to share her fragile mind. For Ayla to safely ascend to the throne, the Starlit Isle herself needed to evolve.