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Silas crossed the room, coming to stand behind her with one hand on her shoulder while the other gently wiped away her tears. The warmth of his palms steadied her.

“What do you want to ask her?” her father asked.

She considered. “What’s next?”

It was as open-ended a question as it could come, when normally with oracles, it was best to be specific. All Esmae wanted was to get closure from her mother. No longer would she be bound to the ties of fate. She’d find her own path with her mate. Her father repeated the question aloud and activated the magic.

She expected perhaps a preview of the next far-off land or a location.

Instead, the air around them stilled. Magic rose from the card, billowing around them.

The necromancer rises.

The single sentence echoed in their ears. She looked up at Silas, who wore an expression of confusion.

“What does that mean?” she wondered.

Her mate shook his head. “In all my years, I’ve not heard of such a creature.”

She frowned. “Maybe we’ll find them on our travels.”

Her father gave her a concerned look. “Maybe you’ll steer clear of this necromancer. That sounded ominous, even for an oracle’s magic.”

Esmae thought it rather sounded like an adventure.

They said their goodbyes, her father giving her the strongest hug he had in years. Now that she’s stopped fretting over caring for him, she not only felt freer but also closer to him.

Silas shifted into his dragon form and lowered a wing so Esmae could climb aboard. His black scales gleamed in the moonlight. He launched them into the sky with his powerful hind legs. The cool night air was blissful as they drew higher and higher up. From the distance below, her father was just a speck, waving at them.

Esmae had a map and any number of plans for what they might do.

But the truth was, she didn’t care. As long as Silas was by her side, every day would be an adventure.

She wouldn’t have it any other way.