Sadness filled Alianar’s expression, but he nodded. “I do.”
“Is the expanse of land south of Braelyn still largely unpopulated?” Ralan asked, although he knew the answer already.
A puzzled frown creased the king’s brow. “Yes.”
“I would like to construct a second palace there. Or perhaps an estate similar to Lyr’s.” Ralan smiled at Cora. “And not just because I would like privacy for my new family. Lyr is an excellent guardian for the portal, but we may need more guardians to the south, in the lands beyond the scope of his domain.”
“Do I want to know why?” his father asked, weariness creeping into his voice.
“Not today,” Ralan answered. “We have all had more than enough for today.”
“Indeed.” The king ran his hand across his face and sighed. “I will commission the proper artisans. I trust you will speak with Lord Lyrnis? I would not have him feel slighted by this new outpost.”
Ralan nodded. “I will do so once I have rested.”
“Then go on with you.” A slight smile tipped his father’s lips, though worry still pinched his eyes. “You look like you’re about to collapse where you stand.”
“You aren’t far off, Father,” Ralan said. “Not far at all.”
Eri launched herself at him as soon as he and Cora stepped through the gate. With an oomph, he pulled his daughter close, almost stumbling back through the open portal until Cora steadied him. He wrapped his arms around Eri and lowered his face into her hair as she squeezed him tight.
“Onaial,” she cried, her tears dampening his shirt. “Thank the Gods. You chose the right path. Oh, thank goodness.”
“Shh,” he whispered. He swayed side to side, the same way he had when she was an infant. “It’s okay.”
“You don’t know how close it was. You don’t.”
Ralan recalled the cold darkness where he’d drifted, and he shuddered. “I can guess.”
“We thought you were dead when she started to sob,” Lyr said.
“It was a close thing.” Over Eri’s shoulder, Ralan met his friend’s gaze. “I actually did…well, let’s just say Cora pulled me back.”
Worry pinched Meli’s face as she stared at his daughter. “She told us you were alive, but it was difficult to believe it with the way she cried.”
Sniffling, Eri pushed against him until he lowered her to her feet. Although tears ran down her face, a radiant smile broke free. She danced over to Cora and hugged her around the waist. “You picked the right time.”
Ralan frowned at that. Had Eri given Cora a hint of the future without his knowledge? She must have, for Cora laughed and nodded. “Looks like it.”
A wave of weakness hit, and Ralan swayed until Cora’s fingers wrapped around his arm. He glanced around the room, hoping for the healer, but only Lyr, Meli, a few guards, and his family stood in the entry room. He sighed. More walking it was, then.
“Is Lial in his workroom?”
Lyr’s brows lowered. “I believe so. Can’t you reach him?”
Even the thought of using his telepathy made Ralan want to curl up in the floor and nap. Not that he didn’t want to do that anyway. “Too weak.”
Lyr stared into the distance for a moment and then gave a sharp nod. “He’ll be waiting.”
“My thanks,” Ralan said. “We will speak more later.”
One of the guards held the front door open, and Cora slipped her arm beneath his shoulder as they exited and started down the trail. His heart lifted at the sight of Eri dancing along in front of them, her upset beginning to fade. But damn, the path was long. By the time they reached the healer’s tower, Ralan thought for sure that the sun must be setting. But no. The length of the walk existed solely in his tired mind.
Lial stood framed in the doorway, much as he had when they’d carried Inona and Cora back from Earth. But this time, Cora supported Ralan. He didn’t mind. How could he? They would make a good team. He’d thought so before, when his Sight was muddled, but now he could See it.
“Eager to see me again so soon?” Lial asked with a wry twist of his lips.
Ralan laughed. “I’m not sure I should answer that.”
“Probably not.”
At the door, Ralan caught Eri’s eye. “Stay out here, love. This shouldn’t take long.”
“I know,” Eri said before skipping over to examine a small flower garden.
The bed was empty when they entered. Inona must have been well enough to return to her own room—or Delbin’s. Ralan would have to see how his apprentice fared later. As Eri plopped into a nearby chair, Cora helped him sit on the side of the bed without falling on his face. He wrapped his fingers around her arm when she made to leave and tugged her down beside him.
“Check Cora first.”
Lial studied them both. “Why?”
“I want to make sure our child wasn’t hurt when she used her magic,” Ralan said, staring at his cousin. “She healed me with her fire.”
Lial knelt beside Cora and held his hand over her stomach. “Do you feel unwell?”
Cora shook her head. “Not at the moment. I’ve been getting dizzy off and on, but I don’t know why. It should be too soon for me to have symptoms, shouldn’t it?”
“Hmm.” Lial’s eyes glazed as his hand began to glow blue. After a handful of heartbeats, he settled back on his heels with a smile. “Your exertion caused no harm. I’d say you are a several days beyond what you expect, thanks to having crossed the Veil three times. Even with a guide as skilled as Kai, the odd flow of time there can cause strange effects.”
She shook her head. “I don’t even want to think about that bit of oddness.”
“In any case, your body doesn’t seem to react well to the surge in hormones and the increased strain on your energy reserves. It is a bit early unless you’re sensitive.” Lial patted her hand. “Lucky you.”
“Great,” Cora muttered.
Ralan stared at his cousin. Lial had actually given her a comforting pat? He’d never seen the healer quite so gentle. “Can you help?”
“I’ll give her a potion against nausea, but her body will have to adjust on its own.” Lial pulled the remaining chair to Ralan’s side and sat. “Now. What happened to you?”
As his cousin listened, Ralan described the battle, Kien’s spell, and Cora’s actions to save him. “Kehda helped some, but I left as soon as I could.”
“Clechtan,” Lial grumbled. “Our cousin has always been too soft. I’d have knocked you out. A death spell? Good Gods.”
“Cora’s fire seared it out.”
“We really must talk about your methods,” the healer said. “Later.”
Ralan settled back and let the healer’s power sweep through him.
After the healing was complete, Lial produced a potion from his workbench for Cora’s nausea. Then Ralan bid his cousin farewell and headed out the door. She started to follow but paused at the threshold, clutching the smooth vial in her hand as she peered at the healer.
“Lial?”
He glanced up from the other vials he was settling into place on a shelf. “Yes?”
“I’m really not sure how to ask this,” she asked, then winced at his concerned frown. “That sounds serious. It isn’t, not exactly.”
“Now I’m curious,” he said.
Cora took a deep breath and went for it. “I have a friend on Earth. She’s half-Sidhe, and she has the healing gift. But she’s having trouble with it.”
Lial’s lips pursed. “What kind of trouble?”
“She almost killed someone once. It slips out of her control sometimes and does the opposite of what it should.”
“Are you asking for my advice?”
“Not exactly.” Cora nibbled at her lower lip. “The Sidhe healers she contacted have refused to work with her because she’s half-human. I’m not asking you to personally take her on, but do you think if she came here, she might be able to find someone to train her?”
The healer frowned
. “It is possible. I will consider the matter and get back to you.”
“Thank you,” she said before ducking out the door.
Cora settled her hand against Ralan’s elbow as Eri rejoined them, dancing ahead on the path to the guest tower. It hadn’t been the answer she’d hoped for, but it was better than she’d feared. Truthfully, she wasn’t even certain she would be able to convince Maddy to come, not without Anna, and Cora needed to find out if humans were allowed. But no use trying if it wasn’t a possibility.
“Do you think he will do it?” she asked.
Ralan nodded. “That’s the likeliest strand.”
“We’ll have to send one of those mirrors over so I can speak to Maddy and Jase.” Cora leaned her head against Ralan’s shoulder. “They can handle the shop, but I hope one of them will buy it. If we can manage that right now. I’ll need to stay here until the baby is born since our energy is bound. It could cause harm to leave now that she’s attuned.”
“Good thing Lyr won’t mind us staying for a while longer.”
“When did you speak to him?” Then she chuckled. “Never mind. I’m guessing you Saw it.”
His own laugh rumbled close to her ear. “Yes.”
Cora smiled. One thing was certain—being bonded to a seer would never be dull.
Ralan knelt before the altar and sparked the first of nine candles into life. Their rooms were quiet, nothing but the soft sound of Cora’s steady breathing reaching his ears. His family slept, but one thing remained before he could seek his bed. Centering himself, he let his eyes slip closed as Megelien’s candle lit at the touch of his magic.
“Thank you,” he sent.
For several breaths, he thought she wouldn’t answer. Then her presence surged into his mind. “WELL DONE.”
A lump formed in his throat at the pride in her tone. “None of it would have worked without your aid.”
“YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW ACCURATE THOSE WORDS ARE.”
“I can guess.” Ralan hesitated. But there was no use in not asking. She would know. “You told me to prepare for the truth of my vision.”
“SO I DID.” Humor slid into her mental voice. “THE VISION WASN’T WRONG, HMM? I SUPPOSE I DID NEGLECT TO SHARE SOME OF THE POSSIBLE STRANDS.”
Ralan bit back a chuckle lest he wake Cora. “I am glad I didn’t know.”
“YOU WOULD HAVE DIED HAD YOU KNOWN.”
For a heartbeat’s time, he considered asking more. This time, he didn’t. “Thank you for your aid.”
“ALWAYS,” she said simply, making his brows lift in surprise. “NOW GO REST. YOU MAY PAY ME OBEYANCE WHEN YOU AREN’T LIKELY TO COLLAPSE ON MY ALTAR.”
Before he could answer, Lady Megelien was gone. Smiling, Ralan extinguished the candles and crawled into bed. As his body numbed with exhaustion, he curled against Cora’s back. His hand lowered to her stomach, and he smiled softly as his mind began to wander.
Joy suffused his drifting thoughts as he slipped into slumber.
* * *
THE END
Previous Books in Series
Book 1: Soulbound
Book 2: Sundered
Book 3: Exiled (Novella)
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