Page 102 of The Warlord's Secret Heir

We walk down the cliff trail as the sun bleeds gold across the Sundown Ocean. The salt breeze tugs at my hair. The grass is damp underfoot. Sea spray curls in the air and tangles withthe scent of earth and wildflowers. Kel scampers ahead, nimble and loud—his laughter echoing against stone walls. He stoops to pick up rocks, turning them over to see what lies beneath: shells, fossils, colored veins. The light slants low and his small shadow stretches long and eager.

Kyldak and I walk side by side, hands clasped in quiet firmness. I can feel his fingers squeeze mine sometimes as if to say,I’m still here.My heart twists at that. We don’t speak for a while. The waves thunder below, crashing in white foams against cliff rocks, their echo a distant drum.

He says, voice soft but laced with weight, “Do you ever think about what would’ve happened if you hadn’t come back for me?”

I inhale salt and sea a moment before answering. “All the time,” I say, voice low. “Every time I remember, I thank the stars I did.” My thumb strokes the back of his hand. The wind brushes against my cheek, salt stinging lightly.

He turns his head slightly, glancing at me. The light catches his profile—scars and jawline and that war-worn determination. “I never let myself imagine that version of reality. I figured I’d be chasing ghosts, half-alive.”

I shake my head. “You were alive, always. And when you came—” I swallow, emotion knotting in my chest. “When you came, you made me believe again.”

He presses his lips, then whispers, “You saved me.”

I don’t answer right away. Kel’s shout carries back to us: “Mom! Dad! Look what I found!”

We turn. Kel stands on a flat ledge, holding a rock aloft. He calls out, “Look! I found aheart rock!”

I smile, the tension in me unwinding. Kyldak releases my hand and steps ahead, kneeling beside Kel. I follow, my steps light.

Kel holds the stone between both hands. It’s smooth, heart-shaped, pale gray with marbled white veins. He examinesit with pride. “Do you see how it’s like a heart?” His voice is small but triumphant.

Kyldak grins. “That’s amazing, boy.” He reaches to touch Kel’s shoulder. “You got a good eye.”

Kel beams. I crouch down too behind them, shoulder to shoulder. The wind rustles grasses behind us. Spray sparkles on halos of rock. The horizon glows in molten copper.

I rest my head on Kyldak’s shoulder. He shifts, pressing his cheek to mine. The warmth of him seeps into me.

“He’s going to be okay,” I whisper. So utterly certain I feel tears spring in my eyes.

Kyldak kisses the top of my head. “We all are.” His voice cracks a little with hope. “We all are.”

Kel drops the rock into his pocket and looks out to sea. The waves roll, silvered in sunset. Seagulls wheel overhead. I feel the world turning, unstoppable, and yet here in this moment—time arrests.

We linger. The sunset deepens to copper, then wine, then bruised purple. The breeze chills. I shiver against Kyldak, but he holds me tighter.

Kel, ever restless, turns. “Let’s go find shells!” he yells, bounding ahead again.

Kyldak and I rise, brushing off grass. We follow. I glance sideways at him, and he looks back at me. In his eyes are storms and stars and peace. I lean in, brushing my lips to his.

He smiles. “Come on,” he murmurs to Kel. “Show me everything.”

We walk on toward the cliff edge, Kel darting up ahead, pausing to toss pebbles into the surf below. I breathe, deep and full. The world tastes bright — salt and freedom and promise.

And I think, this is what we fought for. Chaos and love and laughter. The chance to walk cliffs with our boy, to ask those wild questions and stay for the answer.

We walk on, together. Always.