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I nodded skeptically, eyes narrowing. “They brought the Dragon’s breath back to Alastir?”

“They did,” Kenna replied. “Puck thought Tess was insane that she stopped to collect even more of it before returning. All he could think about was notifying the others that you had been captured. But Tessinsistedyou would never forgive any of us if you didn’t complete the spell and bring enough of the ingredient back to Alastir to complete the spell.”

A single laugh escaped my lips. “She was right. This can’t all be for nothing. We need to save Nik and Isaac. That is the priority right now. Has there been any sightings of Donika or her men?”

Kenna shook her head. “We had assumed she had sent the Noctani force after you and withdrew the other soldiers once news got to her that you had been successfully captured. But they never brought you to her?”

I shook my head, my brow furrowed. “No. It’s… complicated.”

Her eyes traveled to the marks on my neck once more. “I can only imagine.”

Her gaze wasn’t judgmental, it was understanding. As if she would have made similar choiceshad she been in the same situation. I was thankful that Kenna had been the one to find me.

I had left the seaside cabin with such haste, and on bad terms with my mother. I was anxious to see her again, too. I wanted to ask her about the bar maid I ran into who knew her and Amiyah. I had enjoyed a rare bit of hospitality in Akra, and I wondered at the connection between the two of them.

The soft breeze mussed my hair as the sounds of the ocean crashing against the rocks filled my ears. We were close now.

My muscles were so sore I couldn’t wait to take a long, hot bath in the little tub at Amiyah’s house. I knew we would be calling a council meeting right away, but I hoped I had at least a few moments of rest to clean up before we did.

As we neared the clearing and the trees grew sparser, we were spotted. Puck shouted to the others something I couldn’t quite make out from this distance. A figure was running through the sand, barreling straight towards us. Tess reached me and practically crashed into me, knocking the air from my lungs as her body slammed against mine, holding me tight to her chest.

“Diana. Thank the Mother you’re ok,” she breathed, squeezing me as tightly as her arms would allow.

“Can’t. Breathe.” I bit out between staggering breaths.

She laughed, releasing me only enough to gaze into my face.

“Diana, you had us so scared. You have no idea how happy I am to see you.” Tears filled Tess’s eyes as she pulled me to her once more.

“You have no idea how happy I am to seeyou,” I told her, squeezing her back.

The tears that I had held back since leaving Nik spilled forth now, soaking through the material at Tess’s shoulder and leaving behind stains of dirt and salt. A sob racked my body as she held me tightly.

Kenna left us, allowing us a moment alone at the forest’s edge.

Tess held me there for a long time while we cried. I let everything out until there was nothing left, and I was dry and empty once more.

I wasn’t sure how many more times I could do this.

My heart was fragile beyond reason. My emotional cup was pretty empty right about now.

Donika would pay for this. She would pay for almost breaking me. She would pay for the torment she put me through. Her reckoning was coming, and it would come at the end ofmyblade.

I pulled away only enough to see into Tess’s eyes once more.

“Please tell me you have it,” I croaked. My words were fragile. Brittle.

Tess’s expression turned downcast, and my heart threatened to stop beating in my chest.

“Tess? Kenna said you had it… ” My words were a plea. A prayer.

Please have it. Please. I can’t take any more disappointment.

She nodded solemnly. “We have it.”

My brows knitted together in confusion. “Then what’s wrong? Why doesn’t anyone sound happy about that?”

Tess took a steadying breath, her grip tight on my shoulder as her gaze roamed over my face, taking in my appearance. The dirt on my clothes. The stains on my pants. The ill-fitted clothing I had stolen from Nikolai. The marks on my neck. The purple bruises that had begun to fade on my face.