Page 113 of Never Ever After
D espite the exhaustion, I’ve never felt more alive as we fly onward, each step taking us farther from the palace, an unseen weight falling away from me.
I glance at Jin behind me. Sunlight falls over his face, lightening his pupils to gold. “You must rest,” he tells me. “You’ve borne more than most today.”
“Is it the same for you?” I ask.
“Yes, but I’ve been trained—I know my limits.”
“It was easier to channel it with you,” I admit, trying not to think of how I’m sitting tucked between his legs, my back pressed to his chest—and how I feel no urge to pull away.
“I didn’t know if it would work.” He pauses, then adds, “If you need my help again, don’t hesitate to ask. After all, we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”
I tense at this reminder of my promise to him. Looking around, I’m relieved to find Dian and Ruilin just behind us. Prince Zixin rides ahead, with the warrior called Shiji. As though sensing my gaze, he swings around—but I turn away. A risk, to bring him, but I couldn’t leave him behind.
We gallop through the mountains, our horses navigating the rocky paths effortlessly. The sun dips lower, throwing our shadows long as we head westward from the palace, the other direction from the Amber Forest.
Jin pulls the covering from his face, tugging off his helmet. His hair sticks to the nape of his neck.
“Is this enough of a disguise?” I have to shout my words else the wind swallows them. “What if Queen Chunlei suspects it was Thorn Valley who attacked, not Mist Island?”
“It fits what they expect. Why would they look elsewhere?” He strokes his horse, drawing my eye to the ethereal creature. “Though I despise the farce of our alliance, we need to maintain the semblance of it—at least for now.”
“Is that why you didn’t veil your mounts?”
“Who would look at us when we ride them?” He adds, “Our horses are also faster in their natural form. We’ll easily outpace any giving chase and should be in the Land Beyond by nightfall.”
I clasp my hands, filled with sudden trepidation. Anywhere is better than the Iron Mountains… yet it’s hard to forget the stories I’ve grown up hearing, to anticipate what I’ve always dreaded.
“Are you glad to be going home?” he asks.
“It doesn’t feel like home yet.” It’s not the answer expected of me, but with him, I don’t want to pretend.
“It will,” he assures me. “And if not, come to mine.”
The intensity of his tone… heat pools inside me. I shift away deliberately, part of me still angry at the bargain he struck when I had no choice. I understand why—I might’ve done the same—but it doesn’t make it better.
“The Iron Mountains doesn’t intend to honor the alliance much longer,” I warn him. “During the coronation, they revealed their ambitions to conquer both Thorn Valley and Mist Island. Their offer of Princess Chunlei’s hand was a plan to infiltrate your realm.”
“It’s as we suspected,” he says. “We will be ready. And now, we’ve retrieved the Sun Dragon.”
“But the dragon is weakened. Queen Chunlei has three pieces of the starfire: her own, her brother’s, and their father’s.”
“We have the one from Duke Yuan,” he reminds me. “And we have you.”
I flinch from the weight of such expectations. “This power isn’t mine; I’m just its custodian. The Sun Dragon lent it to me so I could help us escape. Once I return it, I won’t be as strong.”
“You’re strong even without magic,” he says. “Don’t ever forget that.”
I swallow hard, reminding myself of his silver tongue. “How do you want me to help Thorn Valley?” It’s easier when I know exactly what he wants.
“My kingdom is falling into slow decay—we need magic for our trees and crops to thrive, to keep the thorns from overgrowing our land,” he says somberly. “You will have to visit my land, to stay for a while. But your people will try to stop you.”
“You helped us escape—the dragon, Dian, and me. How can they object?”
“Those of Mist Island don’t like sharing their power. They want to keep us dependent on them.” His lips curve into a smile. “They will be afraid that I might try to keep you.”
“You won’t,” I say resolutely.
“What if I do?”
