“Two,” the Soulguider challenged.
Jezzie scoffed. “You have such faith?”
“Four hours,” Lyria snickered as she leaned against the bar, a half-empty glass of whiskey in hand.If we’re stuck here all day, we may as well drink,she’d claimed upon finding us down here minutes ago.
I whipped my stare to the commander. “I can hear all of you!”
Tolek laughed and sat beside me, gently brushing my hair across my shoulder and massaging the back of my neck where the Bond was inked. The tattoo beat impatiently. “What’s your bet, Alabath?”
I crossed my arms, the tea in my cup sloshing with the abrupt movement. “I am not betting on how long before my patience snaps.”
“That’s because I’m right,” Jezebel chimed, kicking her boots up on the table and draping a thick wool blanket over her lap and Erista’s.
“Right about what?” Cypherion’s voice carried from the doorway as he led a pale-faced Vale by the hand.
I straightened, looking over the Starsearcher. She’d donned that powder-blue dress again, crimson stains splattering it, but her hair was washed and skin cleaned of gore. “How are you?”
Vale took a seat at my sister and Erista’s table, Cypherion claiming one beside her and slinging his arm across the back of her chair.
“I’m okay,” she answered. And I heard the words for what they truly said, recognizing something deep within them:I am breaking.
“We’re happy you’re back,” I said.I see you, and I understand.
“Thank you, Revered.” She looked around the group. “Thank you all, truly, for coming for me. I didn’t…” Her eyes flashed to Cypherion, the vacancy of losing her soul bond still clear. “You didn’t have to.”
“You’re a part of our family,” Tolek said without room for argument. His thumb stroked my knee. “We stay true to our own.”
“Our cabal of damaged warriors,” Jezzie suggested.
“Our troop of everlasting spirits,” Erista chimed.
Vale tried to smile, adding, “The fiercest core of relentless hearts.”
“And an incredibly attractive group to boot,” Tolek supplied.
I rolled my eyes, but despite his ridiculous contribution, the sentiment of our family settled over the room like an early morning mist. Something so natural and certain, youknewit would always be there to cool your skin when the sun rose, but a small, effortless wonder of the world, regardless.
That moment of bliss shattered when a knock sounded at the inn’s main door. Immediately, Lyria popped up, the rest of us tensing.
“Who is it?” Tolek asked, but his sister swung the door open, unconcerned, and a hooded figure stepped across the threshold. Rain dripped from their cloak as Lyria closed the door to the pounding storm.
The guest pulled their hood back, and Cyren—the general of the Starsearcher armies—smiled at us. “Heard we were strategizing today.”
“What are you doing here?” My concern threatened to unwind, but I remained on edge. Cyren was a member of Titus’s council.
“Lyria wrote to me when you got here, and again last night—” Their words cut out, scanning the room and landing on Vale. Taking in the stains on her dress. “I heard what happened.”
Vale inhaled, pulling up a trembling bravado. “It’s true. I did it. Are you here to take me?”
Cypherion stilled.
But Cyren shook their head. “I’m here to see how I can help ensure stability moving forward. And I brought you some things.” The general opened their pack to reveal soft, moss green fabrics.
Clothes. They’d brought Vale fresh clothes from one of the nearby markets so she wouldn’t risk being seen. They were on our side—would buy us time so everyone could heal before we had to travel. I relaxed into Tolek’s side.
Shocked, Vale blinked at Cyren. “Thank you.” She pulled out the chair on her other side and nodded to it.
Cypherion redirected the conversation, but kept one eye on Vale as he asked, “So what was Jezebel right about?”
