It Ends Today

*Kieran*

With Raven’s last words—I love you more than you can imagine—ringing in my ears, I pound across the open plain toward the river that is apparently our only hope of survival. We left the forest half an hour ago, and since then, my father’s forces have been gathering behind us. More men stayed with him than I hoped. Fewer than I feared. I still don’t know that we could take them in a fair fight.

Luckily, we have Raven on our side.

We reach the river. At the last possible second, I call across the mind-link, ‘Jump!’

My brother’s gray body flies through the air to my left, Taner’s white wolf on my right. We land in a cloud of dust on a seemingly empty riverbank.

‘My love?’ I ask.

‘Here.’ Her voice washes over me like cool water. Just waiting.

‘I’ll join you.’ Blake—King Cole–steps out from behind some brush with his wife at his side. They hold hands like they’ll never let go again.

After only a short time away from Raven, I understand.