Moments later,

Author

The moment Aria stepped through the stronghold gates, the heavy iron doors groaning shut behind her, she saw him. Malphas stood waiting in the torchlight, his silhouette sharp against the glow, not moving forward, not calling out - just watching, as if he had been standing there for every second of the two hours she had been gone.

Scorpio had already been helped away by the healers, limping but upright, his head held high as guards fell in around him. Aria paused, brushing dust and dried pine needles from her sleeves, her muscles humming with the familiar afterglow of moving fast and unseen. She felt the bond...