Page 98 of Solivagant

I huffed. “Yeah, probably. Homophobia doesn’t exist in his world.”

There were practically stars in her eyes. “I already said I was coming, Joey, damn. No need to convince me further.”

“Just wait until you run out of makeup,” I teased. It amazed me how she’d set out on this solo rescue mission even though the odds of me being dead and eaten were significant, but had still made sure to apply a full face of her signature goth makeup first.

“I’ll adapt.” She waved me off. “Can we go now?”

I rolled my eyes and looked over at Khorli, who seemed confused about what we were even talking about. So soon it would be us confused about the basics of his world.

I smiled. I couldn’t wait.

We collected our bags, and then there was really nothing left to do but leave.

I hadn’t seen the piglet in some time, and my chest ached slightly in disappointment that we would have to leave her behind. But I supposed it made sense. She belonged here, with her family. And it was probably safer for her anyway… provided the hunters didn’t all start pouring into this place now that its guardian was leaving.

I didn’t like it. It sat uncomfortably in my mind for the short walk to the smaller altar.

This one had been secret. It had belonged only to Khorli and Jem. Once it was open, we would destroy it also before crossing the Bridge.

Perhaps it was an echo from Jem that my wrists stung when I saw it. Though it wasn’t unwelcome.

A sacrifice had to be made to open the Bridge, and I knew just how to do it.

I still had my knife, and I inhaled deeply as I pulled it from its sheath.

“I can do it, my Jo,” Khorli told me, his tail reaching for mine as they entwined around each other.

“I need to do this. For Jem.”

Soft pain filled his eyes, and he nodded.

Pain didn’t even feel the same anymore. I had to use more force to break through my skin than I would have previously, but as my blood beaded to the surface, red with a subtle shimmer, I hardly felt it.

It fell to the aged stone, but the magic still lived in the engraved runes. I traced the rune I knew from Jem’s memories. The blood obeyed it, moving itself over areas that seemed totally worn away. Runes written in my blood.

The shadows responded. They billowed. An ancient magic long dormant waking up. And the trees surrounding us shivered in excitement.

The Bridge.

I would cross to the other side. For Khorli, so he’d never have to be alone again. For myself, so I would have the love and acceptance I’d always craved deep down in my bones. And for Jem, who lived on through me, and dreamed of seeing the sky.

My hand reached for Khorli’s and found it waiting. His fingers threaded between mine, and he brought my wrist up to his face, placing a gentle kiss on my palm before his long tongue slid down my wrist and over my fresh wounds to heal them. I shivered.

“Ugh,” Tash grunted, not waiting for us before she stepped into the shadows and disappeared.

“Tiscar Bul Thanor, my Jo.” Khorli smiled.

“Tis… Tiscar Bol Thanor,” I attempted, and his smile grew wider. “My Khorli. Let’s go home.”

50

JOSIAH

It weren’t until we stepped through the shadows, and the world around us changed, that I noticed the three of us weren’t the only ones who had crossed the Bridge.

Nausea pulled at my stomach, at my vision, gradually fading. Soft snorts sounded from behind me.

I turned to see the piglet. She was wobbling as she tried to chase the furry tip of my tail.