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Julia snatched the bracelet from my arm and marched off.

“You know the truly sad thing, other than your self-absorption? You haven’t once asked how Maryn is,” Julia threw over her shoulder.

I froze.

The reason we had attacked the creature was because it had Maryn and had badly injured her. Diana’s screams came back to haunt me, and I recalled the whole scene again.

Father had run at the Kraken because it was trying to kill the townspeople. His face had twisted with hate because it had hurtMaryn. Father had taken a risk because of Maryn, and had got too close. I had made myself forget that because of my self-pity.

Julia was right. I had failed to consider Maryn, her unborn children, or Diana. That was very selfish. I also realised that Julia had just had her first conversation with someone in fourteen years, and all I did was abuse her.

Julia had asked me for help and what would happen when she returned alone? Would Julia retreat back into her shell again? There was just one witness who could attest to the remarkable event: me.

I couldn’t let Julia fall into her previous state.

“Wait!” I yelled.

Julia stopped, not looking at me.

Buoyed, I jogged to Julia’s side and took her hand.

“Wewilldo this together,” I said quietly.

Julia inclined her head in agreement, and I saw tears running down her face. She had left herself open to me, and I had thrown it back in her face.

“I’m so very sorry.”

“It’s okay, Jacques. At least you are coming home with me.”

“Maybe it is time for us both to heal and learn to live with our mistakes.”

“Yes, for me, it is overdue. Hopefully, it won’t take as long for you, Jacques. I think I would like to see my families, both of them,” Julia added softly.

I squeezed her hand.

“You are not alone. I’ll be by your side the whole time.”

Together, we made our way through the forest. When Julia reached a spot that she recognised, she clasped me in her arms and transported both of us directly into the town.

There were gasps and cries. “They’re back.”

Inka rushed into my arms, sobbing out her relief at seeing me alive and well. Then, my family surrounded me, and I allowed them a few minutes before I pushed them firmly away.

“I have to do something, but I will talk to you later and beg for your forgiveness,” I whispered to Inka.

Julia stood on the outskirts of the crowd, and I turned to face her. I extended my hand towards her and grasped hers again. Julia seemed reluctant but walked to me, her face unreadable. The crowd followed at a distance, feeling that something momentous was going to happen, and it did.

I led Julia to her family’s villa and gave Julia a gentle shove.

Her mother came to the entrance, curious as to all the commotion. Pausing, she paled upon seeing her daughter for the first time in years. A hand lifted slowly to her throat in that age-old gesture, and then she shrieked and ran down the steps to where Julia stood.

Julia’s father and twin sister, with her husband and children, came to see what had caused their family member to scream. Her father cried and rushed to join his wife, his other daughter, a hair’s breadth behind him.

Julia was openly crying, and I’d intruded enough, so backed away to melt into the embrace of my family.

I asked after Maryn and Taran’s face set.

“The situation’s bad,” Taran replied.