her lips. “Restoration from the spring isn’t a bath or a simple washing. It violently strips away all the illusions you hold onto and all the miasma that separates you from your true self. With that much power repressed, it rippled during purification. Since he refused the bond, it literally removed your presence from him. It stripped away his memories of you. He suffers as you do, but he is confused and angry because of it. Nocis feeds that anger.”
Swiping a hand over her face, Diana looked at Dorinda. “What do I need to do?”
The vegoia lifted an amused eyebrow. “Wait.”
“Wait?” Diana deadpanned.
“He can’t ignore the bond forever. It will draw him back to you.” She craned her neck as she scanned the roof of the cavern, her eyelashes fluttering. “The forest will manage for a time,” she intoned, her voice echoing through the cavern. “It will wait for you. It requires both of you for life to return once more. It will sleep and Selvans will hunt Cacus, but without you, his hunt will not bear fruit. When the mortal season turns, he will find you once more. Watch for him.”
Diana stared, uncertainty warring within her. Did she want him to return for her? Although her heart and mind cried out for her mate, after he tried to kill her, part of her was more inclined to hide from him at this point.
“Very well,” she said. “I will watch.” Noticing the weight in her hand, Diana extended the sword out to Dorinda. “I think this is yours. Thank you for letting me use it.”
The vegoia gave her a mysterious smile and drew away. “The sword Anola is not mine. It is yours, ati. It was always meant to be. I merely am the vehicle of bringing it to its rightful owner.”
With a soft laugh, Dorinda dove back into the depths of her pool, leaving Diana alone with Raskyuil and the crocotta.
Turning away, she faced the troll, who was assigned as her escort out of the Eternal Forest. It was almost ironic that she was now to suffer the same exile that Alseida had only days earlier. It gave her only the tiniest bit of comfort that even in the grips of paranoia, Silvas had seen to her safety and ordered the nymph removed. Only this time she wasn’t sure if it was for her safety or for the safety of the Eternal Forest. She suspected that not even Silvas knew.
Raskyuil glanced over at her, the fingers of one hand prodding his wounds. He regarded her quietly as he assured himself that he wasn’t gushing blood. Eventually, his hand dropped away, and he cleared his throat.
“I suppose we ought to be leaving,” he grumbled.
Diana nodded and attempted a smile. She doubted it was convincing since it felt strained to her, but at least she made the effort.
Raskyuil chuckled and patted her arm. “That’s my ati, brave queen. Listen to the vegoia. Things will work out. I think it is about time we got you home. Do you recall anything of where you came into the forest?”
Diana thought back and described everything she remembered of what the forest looked like where she had emerged, right down to the faun she met. Raskyuil seemed familiar with the male because he nodded.
“The portal is not far,” he said. “We will go on foot and allow Keena to reunite with her mate, if he still lives, and see to what remains of her clan. It won’t take us more than a day of travel. That particular faun has his territory closer to the palace than most,” he stated as he slowly walked forward. “This place may sleep for a time, but it is not going to be the same for me. Not after all of that.”
Glancing sideways, Diana peered up at him. “What will you do?”
Grumbling, Raskyuil kicked away the broken remains of his ax and shrugged. “I’m thinking it is a time for a change. Seek what destiny the Fates have in store for me in your world.” He gave her a crooked smile as he strode away, his heavy steps echoing in the cavern. “If nothing else, it should be an adventure.”
“Yes, I suppose it would be,” she agreed as they ascended the staircase.
The troll stopped at the top of the staircase and cast her a worried glance. “Prepare yourself. This isn’t going to pretty.”
Diana gave him an arched look, but then the door opened to a world of absolute devastation. Raskyuil’s