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“We?” Heather asked, narrowing her eyes as she looked between Remy and Hale. This was the exact thing Remy didn’t want to happen. Not after Heather had warned Remy against any growing affections for the Eastern Prince. Remy’s cheeks flamed. If only Heather knew how much of a “we” there almost was if Bern had not interrupted them.

Remy turned to Hale and said, “Can I have a minute alone to say goodbye?”

“We have to go,” Hale said in a demanding tone.

“One minute,” Remy insisted, ignoring his command. Hale opened his mouth to say something more, but Remy cut him off. “You are the one wasting our time right now.”

Hale scowled at her but relented.

“One minute,” he reminded her bitterly as he stepped out into the hall. Remy wasn’t sure if it was far enough for his fae hearing to not eavesdrop. She hoped the bustle of the late-night tavern below would cover their voices.

“You handle him well, at least,” Heather said, eyeing the door. Remy hated the hint of disappointment in that statement, like Heather had resigned herself to Remy not heeding her warnings.

“You see? I’ll be fine.” Remy feigned a smile. Heather shook her head, but Remy carried on. “You can’t travel like this. It will get you both killed. I must go on alone.”

“I don’t like this.” Heather rubbed her hands over her tired face.

“Neither do I, but you must admit that I can move at the pace of the fae and you two cannot,” Remy said with regret.

“Remy . . .” Heather grabbed for Remy’s hands and squeezed them in her own. “I know these fae seem . . .”

“Heather—” Remy chided.

“I just need you to promise me you will be careful. I’ve known you since you were a girl,” Heather said. Her voice cracked and her eyes began welling up. “I’ve sworn my life to hide you and protect you.”

“And you have, Heather, you have.” Remy pulled the woman into a tight hug. How familiar it felt to be wrapped in this woman’s arms. “Thank you. You have saved my life more times than I can count.” It was Remy’s turn to get choked up. “You are just as much my mother as the one who bore me, Heather.” She felt Heather’s muscles clench at that.

This woman had been a mother to her. Heather had been so hard on Remy, working her to the bone, strict with keeping a low profile, always moving them from town to town . . . but she loved Remy. She loved her like a mother loves her daughter. That much was clear.

“I will get to the Temple of Yexshire, and I will find the other red witches,” Remy said, wiping her eyes to keep any tears from spilling. She said it more to convince herself than her guardian. “You will find me there. This isn’t goodbye forever. It is just a short parting.”

Heather bowed her head in acceptance. Pulling away from the hug, she wiped her cheeks. They both knew it was not a short parting. They may very well never see each other again. Remy still had to seek out the amulet of Aelusien and navigate her way to the Temple of Yexshire undetected. Both felt like impossible feats. But if there was any hope of success they needed to move with haste, and that would not happen with two sick brown witches holding them back.

“Be safe, my darling,” Heather said, lifting a hand to Remy’s cheek in an act of tenderness she so rarely showed. “And do not trust anyone but yourself,” she warned her again.

Remy looked away, moving to the bed. Fenrin puffed heavily through his mouth, but his eyes fluttered open as Remy sat beside him.

“Remy,” he said with a weak smile.

Remy grabbed a cloth from the bedside table and swept it across his sweaty brow.

Fenrin pointed a crooked finger to the bedside drawer. “Open it,” he said.

Pulling open the drawer, Remy lifted out a thimble-sized glass vial. Inside, it looked like shimmering silver glitter.

“What is this?” She inspected the vial.

“It’s for you,” Fenrin rasped. Remy looked to him, confused as he continued. “I traded for it two towns back. That is a vial of sand from Silver Sands Harbor. I know you wanted to see it, but I thought this might . . .”

He stopped to cough, doubling over as he hacked. That hard lump seized Remy’s throat again.

“It’s beautiful,” she said, her voice strained with sorrow. She reached into her new riding tunic. Someone had already sewn a hidden pocket into it for her totem bag. Bri did not forget a single detail when she had outfitted Remy with a new wardrobe. Opening the small, black bag, Remy put the vial of sand inside.

“I will carry it with me always,” she whispered.

Fenrin gave her a weak, woeful grin.

“It’s always been you and me against the world, Fen,” Remy said, her voice wobbling. “You are my best friend, and I will miss you while I’m gone.”