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“Garrik told me I was mistaken to say those things to you in the arena. That in time, you may tell me why. And though I will deny it if you ever speak of it outside these trees…” Jade sighed heavily before rolling her eyes to the sky and shaking her head. “I’m shit at apologies. So, unfuck you or whatever.”

Alora couldn’t help the choked laugh and nodded.

Jade was trying. As best as Jade could.

“I was giving you a compliment when I called you a princess.”

Alora scrunched her eyebrows. Confusion covered her face.

“You fight like a princess because you fight like me. And I didn’t like it. Not when you fought the gamroara, against me…We”—she looked away—“don’t fall easily. You wouldn’t be an easy fight. And I didn’t want to stare my kind in the face and fight my own feelings. If I could break you, then I wouldn’t have to watch you die, just as my sisters-in-kind in our fighting pits. You didn’t belong here.”

“So, it was never about Aiden?”

Jade worked her jaw. “Not all of it. But if you ever lead any of myfamilyto be injured again?—”

“I know. And at this point, if anyone hurt them, I too would do the same.” She shocked herself at her own admission. “And if you ever speak a word ofthisto anyone outside of these trees…” Alora looked up to the stars and shook her head, picturing Eldacar, Thalon, Jade, Aiden, and even the High Prince.

Family.Jade had called them family.

What she wouldn’t give to feel that someday again. She glanced over at Jade. The stars cast a glowing white light across her exhausted, freckled face and red hair. Seeing her in a newlight, brighter in some way. And she felt that new bond stirring between them as a simple, real smile grew on Jade.

“Jade?”

“What?”

With a smile, Alora ventured, “We all need therapy.”

“Indeed.”

Amused laughs echoed through the trees.

The pulseof energy irradiated through them as they reached the boundary of camp. A deep wave of gratefulness shuddered down Alora’s spine. Not simply for the fact that they had returned, but that thrumming energy, that taste of metal that had her arm hair standing on end, meant one thing.

Garrik’s shield still held.

Alive.Garrik was still alive.

A sentry spotted them as they crossed the tree line, and soon three Dragons wearing battle leathers rushed to them. Two lifted Jade and carried her back to the Shadow Order’s firesite. The third assessed Alora and escorted her to Eldacar, who was examining Jade’s ankle.

“Unleash Michael, what happened to you two?” Thalon stood cross-armed. Alora could have sworn he took on the High Prince’s unamused pose.

“It was a reike. Damn beast almost killed us.” Jade winced as Eldacar wrapped her ankle with healing hands and white cloth.

“How in Firekeeper-filled-hell did you get away?” Thalon’s expression was something a little more than shocked.

“Alora—ah!” She winced as Eldacar moved her ankle into its correct position and finished wrapping, before turning to Thalon to speak?—

A pulse of static energy rippled through their bodies.

“Shit.” Thalon barely breathed as another pulse only seconds in-between shot through them.

Paralyzing fright flooded Eldacar’s eyes as he looked up. The stars wavered, throbbed with otherworldly purpose. A shuddering gasp escaped him.

The hairs on Alora’s neck bristled. And they all watched the disturbing oscillation distorting the night sky. Pulse after pulse after?—

Only this time…

It didn’t return.