With Rugr off to get some much-needed sleep, the group had enjoyed breakfast together.

  The fish was delicious, which led to the subject of Rahna and Bitter’s absence. Will replayed the basics of their earlier conversation, but if Kleo had any concerns, she didn’t show them.

  With Maya beside him, Will’s thoughts drifted to the night before. Opening himself to vulnerability had felt like stepping into the void. When he draped his arm across her, he half-expected her to pull away. When her tears came, his instincts told him to retreat, but something deeper urged him to stay.

  He knew her tears weren’t rejection. They were loss and regret—emotions he understood but had never processed. His sorrow remained dammed inside, tangled in pain he hadn’t dared face. He had held her closer, offering quiet comfort. And when she hadn’t turned him away, he knew a crack had formed in the wall between them. The healing had begun.

  This afternoon, despite their rugged surroundings, Maya looked radiant. When their eyes met, she offered him a shy smile—the kind he hadn’t seen in years. Something between them had shifted. Progress, finally.

  Jack and Kleo had returned from their walk. Will expected Kleo would tell Jack the true story of what happened last night. Maya disagreed. Kleo’s greatest fear was losing Jack, and the truth of what she was might affect him in ways she couldn't predict. Kleo wouldn’t take that risk.

  Now they sat watching Jack and Kleo spar a safe distance from the main camp.

  Kleo’s skill was evident—she pinned Jack twice in under a minute—but he taunted her mercilessly.

  "Cheater!" he shouted, grinning. "You’re only winning because I’m not using my full skill set. I’m holding back—because you’re a girl."

  Kleo didn’t take that lightly.

  Wiping a trickle of blood from her lip, she launched at him with feline speed, toppling him and planting a triumphant foot on his groin.

  "Ouch," Will muttered, wincing in sympathy.

  Jack, unfazed, only laughed. "I don’t use it anyway," he said with a mock-serious shrug.

  Kleo shot him a knowing smirk that said otherwise.

  Jack retaliated by sweeping her leg out from under her. She hit the ground with a thud, and he pounced, pinning her. The sparring session dissolved into a passionate make-out session. Will raised an eyebrow as their antics escalated. He caught Maya wearing a bemused expression.

  "Looks like fun," he said.

  Maya handed him a cup of tea. "They’re a two-person circus."

  Will smiled. "Yeah, it’s like one of those nightmares where we had those kids we always talked about."

  She laughed though a wistful gleam was in her eyes. Will cringed. It was not the best time to mention that.

  "How did you sleep?" he asked, shifting the topic.

  She stared into her tea for a moment. "Good," she said finally.

  He waited, but she said no more, her gaze drifting to Jack and Kleo, now lying on their backs, panting.

  When the couple got up, they joined Will and Maya on the rocks.

  Jack had a bruise under his left eye. Kleo was nursing a fat lip.

  Maya tilted her head. "I think Kleo got the better of you, Jack. Maybe you and Will should work on your form."

  "That would take time away from magic. Not gonna happen. I’m still stuck on two spells. Haven’t learned anything new."

  Maya laughed. "It's only been a day. Remember our talk about patience?"

  Jack stuck out his tongue.

  "Careful, Jack. Remember what happened to the Dark Witch?" Kleo said.

  "I've heard," he said grumpily.

  Will and Maya spoke in unison. "We haven't."

  Kleo looked at Jack, a question clear in her eyes.

  "Fine," he sighed, crossing his arms. "You can tell them."

  Though most of that night remained a blur, this was his favorite part of the story. It made him look both brilliant and fearless. He hoped it would impress Will.

  Kleo leaped to the ground, ready to reenact the scene.

  Just as she opened her mouth, Rugr emerged from the shelter.

  "Hold that thought," she said, raising a finger before heading toward him. The group sat there, suspended in anticipation.

  "Well," Will said. "That's disappointing."

  Maya sighed. "Maybe you and Jack should tend to the horses—take them to the river to graze."

  "Yeah, if we're breaking camp, now's the time."

  "Come on, Jack. Time for your next lesson in horsemanship."

  Jack groaned, glancing at Kleo and Rugr. His talk with her had eased some concerns, but he couldn't forget the last time those two were alone—when Rugr had suggested killing him and dumping the body.

  He felt safer now, but Rugr was holding something back. Whatever secrets remained untold, Jack was sure they spelled trouble.

  When Will and Jack returned, Rugr and Kleo were in a heated argument, with Maya mediating.

  "I need to go south," Kleo insisted, her voice firm.

  Jack furrowed his brow, confused by the dispute. As far as he knew, their plan to head south hadn't changed, with or without Rugr.

  “The box is south, Kleo,” Rugr said, exasperated.

  "It's where everything began—you, me, and Jack. All we need to do is retrace our steps back to the wagon. South." He emphasized the word like he was driving a stake into the ground.

  Kleo's expression softened. "Fine," she relented. "We can head that way—as long as we're going south. But I need everyone to understand something: if I choose to change direction, you'll be on your own. I don't mean to be harsh, but my mission is vital to me. I know the box matters, but my path can't wait for anyone."

  Rugr gave a slow nod, understanding her determination. The Kadas Shadoom, he thought. It was pulling her along its unyielding current.

  Jack, eager to lighten the mood, chimed in. “Heading back to the wagon sounds great. We could even stop at the abandoned temple again. I wouldn’t mind another swim in the pool.”

  The words had barely left his mouth before he realized his mistake. All eyes shifted to him, their curiosity palpable.

  “What abandoned temple?” the group asked in unison.

  Kleo’s glare hit Jack like a slap. She followed it up with a soft punch to his arm. “Jack! That was our secret. Just for us,” she said, her voice dipping into a rare whine.

  Jack winced, feeling the weight of her disappointment.

  The temple was their special place—their sanctuary. It was where their connection had truly deepened, where they’d performed the binding ritual, and where they’d first made love. He hadn’t meant to reveal it.

  "I'm sorry, wife. I got excited about returning there with you."

  She was still pouting, but he knew she would forgive him. Still, he sensed her frustration with Rugr. Maybe it stemmed from something he had said—but Jack suspected it was more about what he hadn't

  Turning to Will and Maya, Rugr shifted gears. “Will, Maya. You did what I asked, and I’m grateful. I presume you’ll want to head back to Ilimar?”

  Will glanced at Maya, already anticipating her answer.

  “I go where Kleo goes,” Maya said. Then added, “That is—if she’ll have me.”

  Kleo’s face lit up as she wrapped Maya in a hug. “That was the correct answer. Of course, I’ll have you!” The two women laughed, breaking the tension.

  Will turned to Rugr with a smirk. “I go where Maya goes,” he said, echoing her words. “That is—if she’ll have me.”

  Maya raised an eyebrow, her face a picture of mock seriousness. “How much time do I have to consider it?”

  Before Rugr could interject, Maya’s expression melted into a warm smile. “Of course, I’ll have him. He’s my Will.”

  For the first time in what felt like ages, Will and Maya embraced, their arms tightening around each other in a way that spoke of shared history and mending fractures.

  Rugr gave a slight cough, and his tone went all business again. “All right, then. We head out as soon as you break camp. Be snappy about it—this rain won’t hold off forever.”