Page 185 of Vasmora

“You’re alive! Thank the gods!” With her arms wrapped tightly around my neck, I could scarcely draw in a breath.

“Rykaia,” I rasped, patting her on the back. “I can’t … breathe.”

“Oh! Apologies.” She loosened her grip and settled back onto my outstretched legs. “Are you okay? No injuries?”

“Aside from the nerves you’re pinching as we speak? No.”

“I knew he’d find you,” she said, ignoring me. “I just knew it!” Lifting her gaze, she frowned. “Who are all these people?” Before I could answer, she waved her hand. “Nevermind. I don’t care. You’re here!”

“Rykaia, truly.” I wriggled my toes as a tingling sensation ran over them. “You’re holding my circulation captive.”

“Oh!” She jumped to her feet, stretching out a hand and pulling me to mine. “We have so much catching up to do. I’ll fetch wine. And food! You’re probably famished.”

“I could really use a bath.”

“Yes, yes, of course. I’ll have Magdah prepare a nice warm stew while you bathe.” Her eyes shifted, and I turned to see Zevander dropping from Raivox’s foreleg. “Good to see you again, Brother.” She threw her arms around him, planting a quick kiss to his masked cheek. “Thank you for bringing her home.”

Home. It hadn’t been that long ago that I’d lain in a cold, damp cell, wondering if I’d ever know life outside of its gray walls. And yet there I was.

Home.

The rims of my eyes burned with the threat of tears, but I cleared my throat, swallowing it back when Rykaia swiped up my arm.

Zevander only managed a brush of his lips against mine, before his sister tugged me across the lawn, away from him. He rolled his shoulders back, a gesture I’d come to know as annoyance, and I smiled as she ushered me toward the castle, where Dolion waited at the top of the staircase.

“And, so, she’s returned.” A bright and inviting smile lit the mage’s eyes as he held out his arms and enfolded me in an embrace. He exhaled a sigh, still clutching me. “When you walked through that portal with Melantha, I didn’t know if I’d see you again. Forgive me for deceiving you.”

I’d forgotten the anger I’d harbored the last time I’d seen him. Finding out his intentions had originally been to turn me into a bloodstone. It all seemed so trivial amid everything else.

“There’s nothing to forgive.”

He held me outstretched, the smile on his face fading as he lifted his gaze toward the sky. “If only we were reuniting under better circumstances.”

Nodding, I sighed. “So much has changed in the course of a few weeks. Perhaps you’ve come up with something brilliant to save the world?” I wanted to speak with him about Morsana, but my mind was far too exhausted.

“Not yet. I’m working on it.” He gave a pat to my shoulder. “You must be exhausted. I’ll let you get inside and rest a bit.”

“Yes, she desperately needs a bath.” Rykaia waved her hand in her face. “No offense, but you smell like you’ve just crawled out of a grave.”

I snorted a laugh. “I feel like it.”

Dolion chuckled and lifted his gaze, eyeing something behind me. “I need a word with Zevander. Excuse me.”

As Rykaia dragged me into the castle, I glanced back to see Zevander patting Torryn on the shoulder, his gaze locked on mine. Over the last few days, there’d been times I’d caught him looking at me, and I’d wondered if he felt the same level of gratitude I did in those moments. If his heart fluttered, his pulse raced wildly. If his breath caught every time he thought of me, the way mine did when his face came to mind.

The utter relief that he was still alive. Still mine.

His stare lingered until Dolion approached and the two of them slipped into conversation.

Just inside the foyer, Allura greeted me with a smile and reached for my hand, pressing it to her heart. “It warms me to see you’ve returned.” She kissed my knuckles and released me.

“Thank you,” I said, glancing around at the familiar tapestries and paintings, the chandelier and sculptures, everything that I remembered from before. “I’m happy to be back.”

My gaze landed on another familiar face.

“Princess Calisza, you remember Maevyth?” Rykaia asked.

“Of course.” Smiling, she bowed her head. “So nice to see you again.” Even outside of the castle, she held herself poised and graceful.