Page 96 of The Curse of Gods (The Curse of Saints #3)

Saying goodbye to Will was more difficult than Aidon had anticipated. He’d known, as they were trekking across this godsforsaken continent, that if they survived, something between them would be forever changed. But he hadn’t realized how integral to his life Will had become.

“You have to come to Rinnia this winter,” Aidon insisted as he hugged him on the docks. “Escape this bitter cold.”

The cold had eased. But Aidon’s Trahirian blood still felt the nip in the air. This was not summer, no matter what the Talans wanted to claim.

“As long as you promise we don’t have to gamble, I’ll be there,” Will replied. “Though maybe I’ll start practicing. Get Mathias to give me lessons.”

Aidon clapped a conciliatory hand on his shoulder. “I don’t know if there are enough lessons in the world to help your skills.”

He laughed as Will shoved him away, the roll of his eyes fond. “Go back to Trahir.”

“Gladly,” Aidon jested with a bow. They both knew he was lying. The lingering wetness in his eyes was an obvious tell.

He wasn’t done crying either. He knew that as soon as he had Aya in his arms. Her hold on him was tight, her mint and evergreen scent filling his nose as he buried his face in her hair.

“I don’t want to go,” he mumbled childishly.

“Very un-kingly,” Aya teased as she pulled away, her eyes brighter than he’d seen in a long, long time. They softened as they held his gaze, her hands squeezing his arms as her tone shifted into something far more serious. “Your people are waiting to welcome you home. I’m sure of it.”

Aidon’s stomach fluttered anxiously at the thought. He’d felt relief at the way the Talans easily accepted their new Visya king, though Aya’s address from the ruins of the Wall had done its part in ensuring the smooth transition of power.

She seemed confident he would receive the same reception. Aidon sure hoped so. Aleissande had personally overseen the organization of getting the citizens who had come to fight back to Rinnia, as well as the bulk of their army. Now, all that remained was a small unit of soldiers and their parents.

They were already aboard the ship, waiting for him to finish his goodbyes.

Aidon scrubbed a hand across his tearstained face before tugging Aya in for one last hug. “If you need anything , you send word,” he instructed. “Even if it’s as silly as the recipe for that fried fish at the docks you like so much.”

Aya grinned as they broke apart once more. “I’ll get that myself when I visit. You didn’t think I’d let Will come wreak havoc without me, did you?”

She cupped his cheeks, her thumb brushing across the stubble there. “You are a true friend, Aidon.”

Aidon’s chin quivered.

One more hug surely wouldn’t do any harm.

He let out a hard breath as he pulled away, his shoulders rolling back. And then he turned for the gangway, where Josie, her own face stained with tears, was waiting. He followed his sister onto the ship, smiling as she ducked into Aleissande’s waiting arms.

Aidon turned toward the rail, his hand lifted in a wave farewell as the ship began to float away from the dock.

An arm slid around his waist, tugging him back against a body he’d be content to memorize the rest of his life.

“You do realize it’s not like you’ll never see them again,” Dauphine teased, her chin resting on his shoulder. But her hand was gentle as it slid into his and gave a reassuring squeeze.

“I should’ve let you go back to the Midlands,” Aidon joked. He turned in her hold, bringing her closer to him as his arms wound around her.

“Mm, you could’ve, but then who would be around to make sure your royal head stays humble?” she asked sweetly.

“Gods forbid you let me gain an ounce of confidence.”

Dauphine laughed as she pressed her lips to his. “You have plenty. Besides, you can do all of your confidence building when I leave to fetch my brother.”

Aidon smiled softly. Dauphine had written to Luc just after the battle, and he’d replied a week later. It seemed he was willing to make amends. Dauphine would travel to Rinnia to set up their new home before returning to the Midlands to accompany Luc across the Anath.

At least, she said that’s why she was coming to Trahir first. Aidon had a feeling she was also doing it for him; because she knew lingering anxiety tightened in his chest when he thought of what might occur when he returned.

“Aster and I will use that time to bond,” Aidon said, his gaze moving to the wolf.

Dauphine rolled her eyes. “As if you need it.”

They didn’t, but Aidon loved any opportunity to tease Dauphine about how he’d stolen the wolf’s heart. She’d been his constant companion in the aftermath of the battle, but he hadn’t expected her to return home with him. He didn’t know of an Athatis who had ever left the continent.

But then Aster had shown up at his door last night, her head held high as she stared at him with clear expectation.

It was said Athatis never took another bonded. But Aidon didn’t know how else to describe the way he’d known in that moment that wherever he was going, Aster was coming, too.

He certainly wasn’t going to turn her away .

He smiled at the Athatis now, his hand scratching that place between her eyes she loved so much. She leaned into his touch for a moment before she jogged off, likely to find a spot to lounge in the sun.

It was strange, suddenly being stagnant at sea. Of course, there was training to participate in, which Aleissande was all too willing to lead. And there were long nights staying up with his family, talking with his parents about all that had transpired in their time apart.

There were even later evenings with Dauphine, his lips getting acquainted with every freckle on her body. Later evenings, and early mornings, and even midday. They were keen to enjoy the rare time they’d been given, unencumbered with duties and wars and politics.

The time passed slowly, but all too quickly as well, long stretches turning into short snaps until suddenly, three weeks had gone by and Aidon was standing at the rail of the ship, gazing upon the rainbow that made up Rinnia.

“Do you see that?” Josie asked from his side. She leaned over the ship’s rail, her eyes squinting to take in the beach. “Are those…people?”

Aidon’s stomach swooped. Aleissande was at his side in an instant, a telescope in hand. Her brows drew together as she looked toward the sand.

“My gods,” she breathed.

“What?” Aidon asked, his fingers reaching for his blade. But Aleissande stilled him, a small smile on her face.

“See for yourself, Your Majesty,” she said, offering him the scope.

Aidon peered through it, his heart hammering in his chest. It took his eye a minute to focus, to sort the buildings from the crowd standing on the beach.

It was not the rebel force—it was no force at all.

It was his people, their arms waving green banners with a golden ship.

Trahir’s flag.

Aidon swallowed against the lump in his throat, emotion swelling inside of him. They were cheering, welcoming their final ship home.

Aidon’s hands began to tremble, and they did not stop, not as he boarded the skiff that would take him to shore, nor as he stepped off onto the sand, Dauphine by his side, Aster trailing behind him.

The noise of his people was deafening—cheers and shouts and praise, a chorus of joy and pride echoing across the crescent moon beach.

A woman broke from the crowd, her long hair tied back in a bun. Her features were familiar in a way he couldn’t quite place, not until she was just in front him.

“You’re Vera’s mother,” Aidon said. The last time he’d seen her, it had been cradling her young Incend daughter, who had been killed when the Bellare tried to assassinate him in retribution for Avis’s sentencing.

The woman smiled up at him, grief still clearly carved in the lines around her mouth. She held out her hands, and Aidon’s gaze drifted down to the golden crown between them.

“My daughter was proud to call you her friend,” the woman said, her voice thick with emotion. “And I am proud to call you my king. As are we all.”

Aidon’s fingers tingled as he reached for the crown. Slowly, he placed it on his head.

“Long live King Aidon of Trahir!” the woman shouted, and the crowd roared their approval, their response so loud, Aidon wondered if it traveled beyond Rinnia and to the edges of their lands.

“Long live King Aidon of Trahir!”