They rode for three days, never stopping to rest until almost midnight, and rising again before sunrise, pushing themselves and their mounts as hard as they could. The snow had gradually decreased as they made their way down the mountains to everyone's relief, though the nights remained cold and they couldn't escape early morning drizzle and fog.

    Tissaia spent her nights curled into Azael, stealing as much warmth from him as she could until he took his turn on watch. She slept very lightly during those hours, no matter how hard she tried. She was too on edge, especially when the rocky mountainside began to give way to the foothills.

    Every segment of their journey brought them closer to Lochren. Back to that dreaded manor that she had promised herself she would never have to return to. They were supposed to make a home for themselves, her and Talarion, with Kaius. That had been their promise to each other. She and her brother weren't supposed to have to go back there, but here they were. They had to face their father once again.

    The only comfort she was able to give herself was the assurance that they would not face him alone. Azael knew she had promised Talarion that she wouldn't leave his side, and they had several brave, strong Cahirim warriors escorting them. Their father had many warriors of his own, but the Cahirim could handle them.

    But even that knowledge couldn't stop her memories from creeping back in the form of dreams when she tried to sleep, whether it was at night or when she was riding double with Azael or her brother so her horse could rest. Just last night, she'd woken with a barely stifled scream and the visions of her father's mocking face and her mother's empty eyes floating above her.

    Azael had been roused by her sudden lurching movements and despite his attempts to soothe and comfort her, she hadn't been able to go back to sleep. She remained exhausted even now as they plodded through the last of the mountainous slopes they'd be facing. They were almost in reach of where they'd be making camp for tonight, and that would place them within a day and a half, maybe two days, from Lochren.

    Tissaia shivered, both from dread and from the breeze that ruffled the hair on her neck, and instinctively, her gaze sought out her brother. Talarion rode near the head of the group today, though he remained verbally withdrawn. He hadn't spoken much to anyone recently, even her, and a part of her was worried he was upset with her.

    She'd done her best to avoid kissing Azael when he was nearby, but she knew he'd noticed her sleeping next to him, and even though he had assured her that he wanted her happiness, she couldn't help but feel guilty when she spied him watching them.

    How could it be fair for her and Azael to finally be happy together after all they'd put each other through, when he and Kaius had been in love from the moment they met and were forced to keep their relationship a secret for over two centuries?

    No, if Talarion harbored some secret resentment towards herself and Azael, she couldn't begrudge him that. Not when he'd suffered so much and received so little in return. By the time Gaelen announced they had reached their campsite, Tissaia was exhausted by her mind as well as her body.

    She all but fell off her mount and set to work unsaddling the horse. A few of the Cahirim warriors were doing the same while others, Kahari and Vael among them, set off with their bows and full quivers, likely to hunt for their evening meal.

    Gaelen was already arranging a small scouting party including himself to ensure they didn't need to be extra vigilant through the night, and Tissaia listened quietly while Azael volunteered to accompany them.

    The group thinned out to complete their assignments and the few who remained were swift to arrange their cloaks on the ground and fall asleep, until eventually, Tissaia was one of the only ones left awake. She chose to seat herself near the edge of the camp along an abundant growth of bracken and small shrubs in an effort to shield herself from the blowing wind that had followed them from the mountains.

    There would be no fire tonight, she suspected. Not when they were within reach of her father's scouts. At most, there would be a few coals warmed to cook whatever meat the hunters brought back. Tissaia drew her cloak around her shoulders and gazed up at the darkening, moonless sky.

    Only a few stars shone tonight and she suppressed another shiver. She brought her gaze back down as Talarion's steady gait approached her. Her brother dropped down beside her and Tissaia leaned into him at once, not giving him a chance to pull away.

    Talarion only slipped his arm around her shoulders and she closed her eyes, soaking in the protective weight of his arm and the warmth of his body, though she knew she would find only ice within his eyes. "We'll be there soon," he murmured. "Are you ready?"

    "Are you?" Tissaia countered.

    "I'm ready for it to be over with."

    "Likewise."

    She sensed her brother's gaze, but didn't meet it, and for a moment, his arm tightened around her. "You had another nightmare last night."

    Tissaia swallowed and gave a small nod. "I woke up seeing Mother and Father's faces hovering over me."

    "I hope the nightmares will go away after this is over. Or at least lessen."

    "Do you think yours will?" She asked.

    Talarion didn't answer right away, and when he did, his voice was barely audible. "My nightmares won't be able to find me after this is over." She glanced up at him, noting the emotion that strangled his words. "Just like Kaius's can't find him," he whispered. "That is one of my only comforts right now. That he's finally free of his nightmares, and the torment of his visions."

    Tissaia found her brother's hand and squeezed it tightly. "He's at peace, I'm sure."

    Talarion turned to face her and she stiffened at the odd gleam within his midnight gaze. "He only had one vision that gave him some semblance of peace, I think. And I thought he might tell you about it himself, but he didn't, maybe because he didn't want to give you false hope since you and Azael hadn't truly reconciled with each other yet. Or maybe he was never going to tell you, but...I think he wanted to."

    "He wanted to tell me what?" Tissaia asked, her heart thudding painfully as she waited for the response.

    "Part of the vision Kaius had when we stayed at the Human woman's barn was..." Her brother faltered, and drew a steadying breath. "He saw you and Azael with a baby. A son." Tissaia's breath ceased as she recalled all that Azael had shared with her about the son he believed they would have, and the warning the Elder had given him.

    "He saw your son grown, and said he was going to look more like us. Like me." His expression grew wistful, almost touched by sorrow. "And he saw him with a female. He said she looked like a winged goddess, and that she was another Phoenix. He didn't know exactly what it meant. Only that the two of them were going to be important in the coming Age."

    Talarion trailed off, waiting for her reaction, but when she gave none, he remarked, "You don't seem surprised."

    "I'm not entirely," Tissaia admitted. "Azael told me he received a prophecy from an Elder many years ago, after we were betrothed. He was told that we were going to have a son, and he finally shared that with me. But this female, the Phoenix, Azael's prophecy didn't mention her. Do you...do you think she'll be the next?"

    "I don't know, and if Kaius did, he never told me. But I know that the knowledge of her existence, and your son's, brought him some comfort." Talarion pulled his gaze away. "You know he would've loved your child. We both would."

    Tissaia squeezed his hand once more. "You'll get to meet him someday."
   
    Her brother's throat bobbed, but all he said was, "I'm glad you and Azael have finally made peace with each other. Just...promise me you'll be happy with him, Tiss."

    "I will be. I already am." She painted a smile to her lips when Talarion finally looked at her again, and he pulled her into an embrace so tight that she could scarcely breathe.

•༻☽☾༺•

    Night had fully descended by the time Azael returned with Gaelen and the other scouts. It seemed the hunters had beaten them back and most everyone was asleep already. There was still some meat left from their hunt though and Azael took his portion with relief. His stomach was turning itself inside out by now.

    He dug in as soon as the skewer was in his hands and by the time he found Tissaia near the edge of the camp, it was already gone. He tossed the barren stick aside as Tissaia caught his eye and jerked her chin to Talarion's sleeping form beside her. She rose and slipped her hand into his.

    Azael knit his brows, but didn't protest when she drew him deeper into the shrubby grove. "We shouldn't go too far," he reminded her. "We didn't find signs of any scouts, but that doesn't mean they won't be around."

    "I know, but I wanted to talk to you. Somewhere the others can't overhear us."

    Azael's mouth curled into a frown and as soon as Tissaia fell still, he cast a shield around them, muffling any words they would share, and temporarily rendering them hidden from anyone on watch. "What's wrong?"

    He listened quietly while she recounted what Talarion had shared with her about Kaius's vision, and who had been in it. His eyes grew wide and his gut clenched with old fear, though he did his best to keep it from seeping onto his face. But Tissaia didn't bother hiding hers. She spoke it aloud.

    "If Kaius saw our son just like that Elder did, then everything else the Elder warned you about..." Tissaia trailed off, her breath quickening. "I know what I've told you before. About how we can't live in fear of the future and we don't know what will happen, but..."

    "But it seems more real now," Azael finished for you. "And you understand why I pushed you away for so long."

    "Yes, but I'm not saying I want you to do that again." Tissaia bit her lip, then lifted her gaze to his. "If that vision ever does come to pass, I want us to have a way to reach each other, no matter what happens. I want to know we've done everything in our power to make sure we won't be separated for long, and our son will be able to find us again."

    Tension spread down his spine as he saw the determined glint in her eyes and guessed what she was about to say. Azael didn't interrupt though, and let her confirm what he already knew. "Darling..." Tissaia breathed. "Azael, I want you to claim the mating bond and bind us."