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“We left you here. Alone,” Seeyr said softly.

“There was no other way,” he said, even as he had been bemoaning that fact not too long ago. But he knew it was true.

She rested her forehead against the cool marble. “I hated doing it all the same. Knowing what you were going to go through.”

“What weallwent through,” he stated. “Your part has been very hard.”

“But I knew--mostly--how it would end,” she said with a wan smile. “I truly will be able to rest here and regain my strength.”

He held her for a moment. “Yes, Seeyr, rest.”

At that moment, Rajani and Elgar appeared through the gate. Rajani’s quick and intelligent gaze took in everything with one fell swoop, or so it seemed. She was smiling in moments and nodding her head with approval.

“Nowthisis a place to launch an empire from,” she said simply.

Seeyr snorted softly. “For a Vampire of her age, she is truly like one of the conquerors of old.”

“Indeed, I am glad she is on our side rather than the other Kalys’,” he said.

“Yes, quite so,” Seeyr agreed.

Elgar, who really had eyes only for Eyros’ skull, did look up and his gaze fixed upon the direction of Eyros’ palace. His lips opened and trembled for a moment. There were tears in his eyes. Christian and Balthazar were immediately next to him, soothing him.

“It’s all right, Elgar!” Balthazar said as he patted his elder fledgling’s back. “I’m here. I’m safe. We’re all safe.”

“Y-yes,” Elgar said as tears trickled silently down his cheeks. “I just never thought we would return to this happy place, Master.”

Christian hugged him. “If you want, you don’t have to leave it.”

But Elgar shook his head. “I must Whisper to make sure that everywhere is a happy place.”

Finally, a figure walked through the gate. It was Caemorn. And his bear. The creature lumbered after him. But still, he seemed so alone. Daemon was not surprised when Julian immediately went up to him. Daemon took leave of Seeyr and Sophia to join them.

Caemorn’s face was curiously expressionless. But that was not because he felt nothing upon seeing Nightvallen. It was because he felt too much and was hiding it.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Julian was saying to Caemorn.

Caemorn’s eyes traced the tops of the buildings. “Yes, it is. Indeed, it is more than I thought it would be. I wish to explore, but sleep tugs at me. Where will I be staying, King Daemon?”

Daemon smiled at all of them. They gathered round as they were curious about that, too.

“Will we be staying in your palace? I’m guessing it's that big one in the center,” Balthazar said, rocking back and forth on its heels.

“You all, of course, have a place there with me. But you also have your own domains here,” Daemon said.

He tilted his head back and closed his eyes. There was a flash and lightning struck nearby as he used the Horys gift to light the sacred flame on top of the Eyros Palace. He opened his eyes. All were looking at where a brazier atop a many-domed structure to the south of Daemon’s residence was now lit up by a bright yellow flame.

“That is your palace, Eyros,” Daemon said.

Balthazar’s mouth worked. “That’s--that’shuge.”

“Yes, it is,” Daemon smiled. “It suits you and you have a large Bloodline.”

Balthazar kept blinking.

Daemon brought down another lightning bolt which lit up another brazier atop another palace, but this time with a green flame. This one had lean, tall towers with air bridges connecting them. It seemed almost to float.

“Fiona, that is your palace. The Wyvern palace,” Daemon said.