Ulluwyn hands Sparrow her cloak, murmuring to her soothingly in Uriskal as she helps Sparrow to her feet. Then Ulluwyn ushers Sparrow back into the cave, her arm tight around her shoulder. She turns once to shoot Thierren an acid glare that hollows Sparrow out with frustrated rebellion.

Deeply unsettled, Sparrow seeks out Thierren that eve, her body covered in a clean, indigo Noi tunic and pants, her violet hair damp and tied back, her form washed free of the ichor and sand and web remnants.

Sparrow finds him sitting outside the cave, his gaze to the desert’s crimson splash of stars.

She quietly takes a seat beside him and peers across the night-dark landscape, softly lit by a ruddy moon, this evening’s events a weight bearing down on them both.

For a long while, they remain silent, but Sparrow can sense the tension brewing.

“I love you,” Thierren finally says without looking at her. There’s an impassioned finality to the words that steals Sparrow’s breath clear away. “I know it’s impossible for us to be together,” he adds, gaze pinned on the storm-banded horizon, puffs of lightning flashing through it. “But I love you and always will.”

Sparrow grips the edge of the stone ledge so hard that her skin strains against her bones.

I love you too, she longs to say, but can’t. The words won’t loosen from her throat. Not here. Not yet. Not on the edge of the Western Realm, where she’s been treated as subhuman. But still, she yearns to say them. Aislinn’s words light in her mind, piercing through her storm of emotion like a bright beacon.

Don’t ever let other people tell you who you can and can’t love.

The storm inside Sparrow intensifies, rivaling the churning storm band along the horizon.

Sparrow gets up and walks away from Thierren, her heart in her throat. She strides back into the dark cave lit only by a single blue-glowing rune stone. Then she curls up on her bedroll facing the cavern’s wall and quietly sobs, half noticing when Aislinn gently places a hand on her shoulder and keeps it there deep into the night.

Don’t ever let other people tell you who you can and can’t love.

The words reverberate in Sparrow’s mind, gaining strength as the night stretches on and Aislinn falls asleep beside her. Effrey is curled up on Sparrow’s other side with Raz’zor, who is asleep as well, the edge of the dragon’s ivory wing resting around Effrey’s shoulder.

Sparrow sits up and turns to find Thierren, across the cavern, fast asleep. Only their sole sentinel, the young soldier Twyne Ko, is awake, standing guard near the cavern’s entrance and surveying the night, her back to them all.