“Live a long and happy life with your mate. I look forward to meeting her when it’s time.”

After another second, we pull apart, emotion knotting my throat. There are so many things I want to say, and he must sense what’s on my mind because he adds, “Someday, my boy, we’ll have all the time in the world to talk about everything. But for now, you need to go home.”

Slowly, I nod, turning towards the cave.

Standing at the threshold, I look back at him.

He gives me one last smile and then bows.

With a salute, I turn and step through the dark opening.

And then I plummet down.

CHAPTER 28

RION

THE AURORA—236 YEARS AGO

Rion stalked through the forest, winding his way through the darkness of the trees. Night had fallen hours ago, and he’d waited patiently in his study, nursing a strong drink, as the Keep settled into the ignorance of sleep. His research missions were always kept secret. He couldn’t risk anyone tracking his movements.

It had been decades since he’d forced his father to descend, finally taking his crown. Decades since he’d attempted to conquer Ouranos until that witch Serce had fucked up his plans. Without his magic, he’d lost so many potential years of experimentation, and only recently was he strong enough to start trying again. He’d find some way to accomplish his goals that had been thrown off course all those years ago.

When his parents, Zerra rest their souls, had departed this world, he’d wasted no time performing the ascension with Meora at his side. Herric had talked him through it, ensuring a smooth transition thanks to the power of the virulence.

As Nadir aged, he’d grown no closer to the boy, who was now a man, and there would be no bridging that divide.

Rachel still consumed his thoughts, though sometimes he’d look at his bonded partner across the room and wonder if he’d wasted his chance at happiness. Perhaps he’d been too short-sighted in clinging to this idea of a woman who’d left and never looked back.

It had also been decades since he’d seen or heard from her, though she was content to withdraw large sums from the account he’d set up for her. Try as he might, he couldn’t uncover who she was sending to The Aurora to retrieve the gold. Even under pain of death, the moneylender had been unable to identify anyone, saying they always came late, just before closing, their face hooded in shadows.

Rion had stationed guards outside the building, hoping to catch them in action, but the culprit always escaped their surveillance. It made him wonder who Rachel was consorting with to have such resources at her disposal. And then realized it was the very money he was providing that probably had set her up with anything she’d need.