Page 104

When he loosened his grip, Korinnae pulled back from Ria’s arms and looked up at her uncle. Her face was blotchy and tear-streaked and she was still shaking, but her voice was steady when she spoke.

“She jumped through the portal for me, Uncle Asty.” Korinnae wiped her nose with her sleeve. “She didn’t even think about it. She just ran.”

His heart thumped in his chest. “Aye, she did.”

“And you came too,” Korinnae added quietly. “Both of you.”

He reached out and pulled his niece against him, holding her so tightly that she let out a small squeak. “I will always come for you.” And it wasn’t just because of his promise to his sister. Somehow, this little calf had wormed her way past his defenses and made a home in his heart.

Korinnae pressed her face into his chest for a long moment. Then she said, muffled against his shirt, “Don’t let her leave.”

You love Ria! And she loves you.

Of course she knew, before he or Ria did.

Korinnae pulled back and stared at him with a directness that made his chest crack open. It reminded him so much of Xanthe. “She wants to leave because you won’t ask her to stay,” she said. “I didn’t tell you, but I heard you fighting. And she’s sad, Uncle Asty. She’s been sad.”

The calf was right. Ria was sad and it was his fault, because he had been a stubborn bull. So, he said the words that had been stuck in his chest, words that his stubborn bull pride stopped him from saying.

“Stay.” The word came out rough and raw. “Not for Korinnae. For me.”

Her mouth trembled. “Asterion⁠—”

“I should have said it to you today when you asked if there was a reason for you to stay.” He swallowed. “I choose you, Ria. I love you.”

She stared at him. Then a laugh broke out of her. “You absolute idiot,” she whispered. “I love you too.”

He kissed her, full and deep. Her arms wound around his waist, melting into him and their bodies pressed together. She sighed into his mouth, a soft, beautiful sound that made him want more. Want to hear every night and⁠—

“Ew,” Korinnae said, making a gagging sound. The calf was sitting cross-legged on the stone, watching them. As they broke apart, she declared, “I told you so, Uncle Asty.”

Asterion rubbed the back of his neck. “Aye, lass, ye did.” Clearing his throat, he got to his feet and helped Ria up. “Alright, let’s get out of here.”

“Do you know the way?” Ria asked.

He looked at the corridors branching from the chamber. “Aye,” he said. “I know the way.”

He led them through the labyrinth, Korinnae’s hand in his left and Ria leaning against his right side. He followed his instincts, left, right, straight, left again, the blue torches flickering as they passed. He didn’t know why he chose which path, only letting his instinct guide him. Finally, the corridors widened and the stone turned to brick and then to concrete. Then, they were climbing a set of rusted stairs and pushing through a heavy door into the bright afternoon sun.

“What is this place?” he asked.

Ria pulled out her phone. “Oh. We’re not too far from where we started. The portal only transported us a couple of miles away. Let me call the team and send them our location.”

After a quick conversation, she hung up and sank down onto a crate, Korinnae curling up beside her.

“How long until they get here?” Korinnae asked.

“An hour maybe.” Ria said. “One and half, tops.”

Korinnae yawned. Then she narrowed her eyes at the two of them.

“Are you going to kiss again?”

“Maybe,” Asterion said.

“Can you wait until I’m not looking?”

“No promises,” Ria said.