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After a moment, Thea refilled their tankards and rested her elbows on the table. ‘Tell us, how are you finding Warsword life, Callahan the Flaming Arrow?’

They talked late into the night, Cal regaling them with stories of his work for the guild since earning his Naarvian steel.

‘That reminds me,’ he said, pulling a scrap of parchment from his pocket. ‘Audra asked me to give this to you – both of you.’

Wilder took it as Cal stood – or tried to, several times, before actually managing it.

‘Goodnight, friends,’ he slurred happily before giving a Kipp-like bow and tottering off into the crowd.

‘What is it?’ Thea asked, nodding to the letter.

Wilder scanned it, his brow furrowing in concentration. ‘Audra’s given us a suspected location for a small group of wraiths…’

A smile tugged at Thea’s lips. ‘Is that so?’

‘It is.’ Wilder’s silver gaze was bright.

‘And?’ she asked.

He hummed, wrapping his hand around the back of her neck and lifting her face to his. The rest of the tavern faded away as he kissed her deeply, thoroughly, as though they had all the time in the world. Now, after everything they had been through, perhaps they did.

As Thea’s toes curled in her boots, he broke away abruptly.

‘That depends on your answer to my question,’ he teased.

‘What question might that be?’

‘Althea Embervale,’ Wilder said, cupping her hands in his, staring deep into her eyes with nothing but love.

She drew a trembling breath, unsure of what would come next.

Wilder’s answering smile was wicked. ‘Will you hunt shadow wraiths with me?’

A laugh burst from Thea’s lips, a broad grin spreading across her face as her heart soared. ‘I thought you’d never ask.’

Not ready to leave this world? You heard it here first: you won’t have to.

“Gold will turn to silver in a blaze of iron and embers, giving rise to ancient power long forgotten…”