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“You promise?”

“I said I would.”

“You say lots of things.”

Asterion raised an eyebrow. “And what is that supposed to mean?”

Ria laughed as Korinnae started for the hallway. “Stay inside the office.”

Korinnae turned around. “I know.”

“I’m reminding you.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“Good.”

The calf rolled her eyes, but she nodded before heading out. Asterion watched until she disappeared down the hallway, then turned back to Ria as she reached across the worktable to put away a jar. He caught sight of her forearm, and the crescent moon and horns were now white against her skin.

He reached for her wrist. “It changed.”

“Yesterday.”

His thumb moved over the pale lines. “Can you still feel Korinnae?”

“Not anymore.”

Asterion was glad the connection was gone. It had helped them find Korinnae, but he never wanted Ria to need it again. He brought her wrist to his mouth and kissed the pale tattoo.

Ria smiled. “You know that’s magic you’re kissing.”

“Aye.”

“The same magic you used to complain about constantly.”

“I complain about many things.”

“That’s true.” She slipped her hand into his and gave it a squeeze before turning back to the worktable. “I have to leave for a few hours this afternoon.”

“Upperworld?”

“No. South Alindale. I have a new patient.”

That caught his attention. “Really?”

“Apparently someone heard that there’s a new healer from the Upperworld.”

“That was fast.”

“People talk.”

“Unfortunately.”

Ria laughed. “If this keeps up, I might actually have patients on both sides of the portal.”

Asterion looked around the workshop. She was building something here without giving up what she had in the Upperworld. He still didn’t know exactly how that was going to work.

“We’ll figure it out,” he said.