Then he gives me a serious look. “How did you destroy her palace? What did you sacrifice?”

My brow furrows, and I let out a deep breath.

“What is it?” he asks.

“You,” I say. “When she refused to give you back, I thought I’d never see you again, and I wanted to hurt her. When she said Herric’s name, I realized she never intended to release you. So I lost control—I truly thought you were gone forever.”

He slides from his seat and drops to a knee, his hands folding with mine. We press our foreheads together, needing only to hear our breath and feel our hearts beat.

“So now what?” Nadir says after a moment.

“We stick to the plan and head back to Aphelion.”

I look at him and nod, neither of us saying what’s next. We have to find the Crown so I can ascend. We need to get the arks of Aphelion and then Heart. That means confronting Rion once and for all. I started in The Aurora as a child and ended up in the Sun Palace, but everything keeps pointing me back to where I spent so many miserable years.

My gaze drifts north. Both Rion and Zerra want the ark of Heart for what I can only surmise are very different reasons.

Either way, we must get it back.

“Back to Aphelion again,” I say.

Hopefully, not for the last time.

CHAPTER 32

NADIR

Once Lor and I dress in our borrowed clothing, we head back downstairs. I still don’t have any way to pay the innkeeper, but I’m hoping I can convince her money is coming her way. I’ll make up for our imposition later.

We brush past the bar and head for the door.

“Where are you—” the innkeeper asks, but I raise a hand.

“As I said, you will be compensated for our presence.”

She plants her hands on her hips and gives me a dubious look.

“Just not today,” I say with a smile. “But you will.”

She looks towards a man in the corner who watches us both, his eyes shadowed by a hood. Some goon she hires to pummel anyone skipping out on their bill.

“Your friend there doesn’t stand a chance against me,” I say, and the innkeeper raises an eyebrow. “This would be much less messy if you’d just believe me.”

“Please,” Lor says. “We will send you something. I swear it. We’ve run into some trouble and lost our things, but I promise we’re good for it.”

Whatever she sees in Lor’s face causes the woman’s expression to soften.

“Fine, then,” the innkeeper says. “May you be cursed if you’re lying.”

Lor gives her a smile. “Absolutely. Get in line.”