She didn’t speak, allowing her memories to tell the story for her.
Alena told Brandt she figured out who the bandit was.
Jace resisted, even though some part of him had already guessed the truth. Brandt revealed his plans to fight the bandit alone in the woods outside of town.
It was then Alena realized that using this technique, she actually could reveal to Brandt much of what he had forgotten.
But for now she focused on Jace. She let him watch the battle in the woods. She felt his heart sink as he saw Kye defeat and then manipulate Brandt.
Alena flashed through the rest of her memories. The most important pieces for Jace had happened in Landow, but she wanted him to know. He watched her as she fled to Tonno, then into Etar. She allowed him glimpses of her life there.
Then she showed him what caused her to return, and what happened when she did.
When it was done, she broke contact with him. Being so close to another’s soul made her uncomfortable.
Whatever desire for revenge he’d held had been shattered. He saw how he had been lied to for years.
For a while, he feared the truth would shatter him.
She couldn’t imagine his suffering. He had built his life around her betrayal. He had built his life around a lie.
He collapsed into her arms, and she held him tightly.
She severed the connection between them, thrusting them back into the real world. Her cheeks were damp from tears, but at the moment she couldn’t care less.
Before Brandt could react, she ran to Jace, still fighting disorientation after the soulwalk. She embraced him, holding tightly onto him. He tensed, and for a moment she worried.
Then he relaxed and returned her embrace.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
Alena shushed him. They were both sorry. It didn’t need to be said.
Brandt cleared his throat. “I’m going to have a drink.”
Alena didn’t know how much time she spent holding on to Jace. She didn’t want to let him go, not ever again. From the way he clutched onto her, she wondered if he felt the same.
Eventually, though, they broke apart. Jace sat on the chair in the room while Alena sat on the edge of the bed.
“What happens next?” he asked.
“The emperor is coming. He wants to see the gate himself. After that, I don’t know.”
Jace chuckled and shook his head. “Not in the empire. With us.”
“Ah.” Alena paused. “I — I want to go home.”
She couldn’t speak her question, but Jace understood. After their soulwalk, she wasn’t sure it would be possible to keep secrets from one another.
“They would love to see you,” Jace said. “Your leaving broke their hearts, but I don’t think they ever really believed the stories Kye told about you. Especially Father. I always suspected he knew more than he said, but all he would ever say was that you were innocent. It angered me.”
Alena nodded. “I always was his favorite.”
Jace shook his head, wiping away his final tears. “Even after you left.” He stood up. “Let’s go, then. It’s been too long since I’ve been home, too.”
Alena wasn’t ready, but she took his proffered hand, and they went downstairs. Brandt, true to his word, was enjoying a morning mug of beer. When he saw Alena’s judgmental look, he shrugged. “They don’t have beer at the monastery. You’re going home?”
“We are. I’ll return.”
“I’m glad for you, Alena.”
Jace and Alena left the inn, walking the familiar paths to their family home. Alena had many questions, but she found it difficult to speak. All she could think about was seeing her house once again. Seeing her parents.
Despite Jace’s assurance, she worried about their reaction. She had run, had put the family through more difficulty than they had ever deserved. So much blame could be laid at her feet. Would they still welcome her?
When they came close, Alena gave a low laugh.
“What?” Jace asked.
“This is the same route we took when we came home from academy.”
Jace looked down the street, then laughed as well. “Huh.”
“I feel like you’re the one escorting me, now,” Alena admitted.
“I was escorting you back then, too.”
She heard the pride in his voice. Even though he’d been younger, he’d always considered himself her protector. She’d taken that away from him, too. “I’m so sorry, Jace.”
He shook his head. “No more apologies. Let’s only look forward.”
Alena nodded, a weight slipping off her shoulders. The road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but she would walk it with Jace and her family by her side.
Alena paused when their house came into view. In all these years, it had barely changed.
Jace gently pulled her forward. As they came close, he reached out and held her hand.
They came to the door, standing awkwardly outside it.
Alena looked at Jace. “Do we just go in?”
He smiled. “I think you better knock.”
Alena raised her hand, hesitating just for a moment. This whole event felt unreal, like a dream finally coming true.
She knocked.
It took a while, but she heard movement on the other side of the door, and soon it opened, revealing her mother’s face.
They all stood there in silence for a moment. Then Jace spoke. “Look who I found.”
Her mother took one look at her children, both in front of her. Alena saw how she noticed them holding hands. For one long heartbeat, she worried her mother would turn away.
Then Mother threw herself into them, wrapping them both in an embrace far stronger than Alena expected. She sobbed as she pulled them all to their knees.
Alena heard the sounds of someone else moving in the house, and then she saw him.
Father, coming to investigate the commotion.
When he saw everyone, he paused midstride, as though he couldn’t believe his eyes. Then he ran forward, crushing them all in his thick arms.
Alena cried.
It was good to be home.
Epilogue
Alena knocked on the door to Brandt and Ana’s room. It opened quickly and Ana gestured
