Even with their most pressing matters out of the way, it was still days more before they were finally ready to leave Lochren. Just as she planned, Tissaia had taken the time to speak with Erel before the male departed. They hadn't said much, though Erel had expressed multiple times how sorry he was that he'd never tried to contact them again.

    He had explained that many times, especially in the first months after he left, he'd often thought about coming back or trying to get in touch with them, but remembering how desperately Talarion had begged him to leave made him afraid to risk it. Then, after he met and married his husband, it no longer seemed like a wise choice to seek out a former lover he still bore some feelings for.

    Tissaia was as understanding of that as she could be, and all she told him in return was that her brother had been glad he'd made a life for himself, and that she knew he had always cherished their time together.

    Then, Erel had asked if Talarion ever found someone else, and she answered honestly, claiming that her brother had found someone he loved so much that he wouldn't allow even death to separate them. Erel left soon after, taking with him the few letters he and Talarion had exchanged at her behest, and Tissaia had shut herself into her brother's room afterwards.

    She didn't allow anyone else inside while she was working. Not even Azael. She didn't want anyone else handling her brother's things until she knew what she planned on doing with them all. She had taken her time sorting through all of his belongings, from his clothes and weapons, to the few trinkets he'd acquired over the years and the remaining letters between himself and Kaius.

    She had only skimmed through a few of the older ones, not wanting to accidentally read something not meant for her eyes. Tissaia chose to keep some of their very first letters and all the ones that mentioned herself, and the rest, she burned away.

    She had decided to have most of his weapons sent to Arcan, along with several of his blankets and some shirts, but his leathers she requested to have distributed to members of the Cahirim who might need them. They were still in good condition, and she didn't want them to go to waste.

    His other clothes were being sent along with the supplies Azael had arranged for the village that had suffered from the fire. Tissaia was also keeping any of the small trinkets that she had made or purchased for him, and those she knew had come from Kaius.

    There were many of them that she hadn't even been aware of, and it left her heart strangled with affection, knowing that Kaius had always been taking care of her brother in what ways he could, even when they were apart. From her own belongings, she took only her clothes, several books, and the few gifts her brothers had given her over the years.

    There was nothing else she wished to drag along to her new home. She hadn't expected to want anything of her parents' either, but Kahari had finally persuaded her to at least look in their rooms, just in case she missed anything. Tissaia begrudgingly did so, and in her mother's room, she found a portrait hidden beneath a large sheet.

    A portrait of herself and her twin, which had to have been done recently, judging by their ages in it, but when, and why, she had no idea. Still, the fact that her mother had wanted a portrait of them stirred something within her, and very briefly, she wished she could've asked Astara about it. The portrait had departed the manor along with the rest of Tissaia's belongings.

    And finally, four days after her brother's memorial, she left Lochren for the last time. The manor would be left to the person selected to take her father's place as Lord of Lochren, and she had already suggested several worthy families to Azael.

    Those families would meet with them in Arcan after the rest of Roshan's affairs were put into order so they could determine who would be the best fit. But before then, they had one more stop to make on Drenusha's quest.

•༻☽☾༺•

    Tissaia gazed at the magnificent structure of Drenusha's Library rising above the rest of the forest treetops. No matter how many times she saw it, it was always somehow even more beautiful the next time. At her side, Vael and Kahari were equally awestruck. As promised, the two Forest Dwellers had accompanied her and Azael to the site, and aside from them, only Gaelen and a few warriors were their escort.

    "It's...beyond words," Kahari stammered presently. "It's beautiful."

    "Do you think it will be safe enough for the book?" Vael asked, his gaze meeting Tissaia's over Kahari's head.

    The other female answered before Tissaia had a chance to. "It will be," Kahari assured him. Her green eyes had grown far-reaching, and she raised a hand, pointing at something. "I see her," she murmured. "Drenusha's Doe. She's watching us. Waiting for the book."

    Tissaia drew a steadying breath as familiar sorrow panged through her. They were here at last, at the end of their quest, without those who had first begun it. She lifted her braided bracelet to her cheek as tears stung her eyes unannounced. "Sorry," she whispered, sensing the others' gazes shift to her.

    "There's nothing to apologize for, my Love," Azael replied, his voice soothing.

    "I just wish..." she trailed off, shaking her head. A faint smile spread across her lips. "You know what I wish. Let's just do what we came for. I'm tired of traveling."

    She swung off her horse as they were within easy walking distance and she knew the creature was likely just as weary as she, as they'd already been traveling for far too long. Azael followed suit, as well as Kahari, but Vael remained mounted. Tissaia narrowed her eyes at the Shifter.

    "You can manage the rest of the way without us," Kahari explained. "We'll set off for home from here and check in on some of the other villages on our way." She smiled, though it held a hint of anxiety. "My sister will be worried since she hasn't heard from me after we left, and I don't know how Mother is these days."

    Tissaia nodded at once. "Of course. Thank you for coming with us this far." She looked at Vaeldan once more. "Thank you for all your help." The Shifter smiled and bowed his head, then turned to clasp Azael's outstretched hand.

    Tissaia pulled Kahari into a tight embrace. "You'll come to Arcan soon, won't you?" She asked. "Azael was already talking about making plans to deal with the Blood Fae, and to see if we can figure out where exactly Astaroth is and how he's being held there."

    "As soon as I can," Kahari promised. "After all, I don't want to miss the first, and likely only, Royal wedding I've been invited to."

    Tissaia smiled, squeezing her tighter. "Well, even if I don't see you before, at least I'll see you then."

    "Take care of yourself, and your mate too."

    "I will." They drew apart, but Tissaia gave her shoulder one last squeeze and shot a pointed glance at Vael. "You take care of him."

    Kahari's cheeks flushed and she only nodded, then swung back onto her horse. Tissaia and Azael remained while the Forest Dwellers rode away, and when the trees swallowed them up, continued on to the Library.

•༻☽☾༺•

    Azael drew a deep breath carrying hints of dust and foliage, but also the sweetness of lavender and sage as they approached the Library. It rose before them like the remnants of an ancient castle that had been swallowed by a tree. Wooden staircases wound around the exterior trunk, leading to multiple balconies, verandas, and entryways at different levels of the Library.

    Windows of crystal glistened in the sunlight and tendrils of moss and leaves followed the patterns of the wrinkled walls. They had always reminded him of the roses in his mother's bedroom, and he wondered if this was where she'd drawn her inspiration. At the doorless entrance atop the grand staircase, the High Priestess was already waiting to greet them with several acolytes.

    Azael dismounted and helped Tissaia down before she drew the book out of her saddlebag. The two of them, accompanied only by Gaelen, mounted the steps to join the Priestess. She asked no questions of them, and only beckoned for them to come inside.

    The main chamber of the tree was a vast, hollow circle that extended up and up for several stories, and at the very top, a massive chandelier of crystal and sea glass hung down multiple levels, leaving dancing prisms floating overhead. But their destination was in the center of the ground floor, where a staircase descended into the depths of the Library to Drenusha's temple.

    Azael and Tissaia followed the Priestess down while Gaelen remained above with the acolytes. The air gradually became cooler and took on a musty scent before they entered another circular room. It was lit by glowing strands of crystal and sea-glass hanging from the ceiling. Crescent shaped pews filled the chamber, growing perpetually smaller as they approached the center of the room.

    Its focal point was an altar, like in Nepenthe's temple, but a statue of Drenusha was erected on top of it. Carved onto the sides of the altar were effigies of Nepenthe, Oriana, Durga, and Hadeon. The Priestess bowed to them before vanishing back up the stairs, leaving them with the privacy to do what they needed to.

    Azael watched Tissaia quietly while she circled the room, her lips pursed. "If we're meant to leave it in another temple, do you think there could be another place in here where we should put it?" She mused. "I don't even know where Kaius found it originally."

    Azael furrowed his brows. "The only place in that sanctum that could've possibly hidden the book would've been the altar. Maybe there's a way to move it and hide it beneath?"

    Tissaia shook her head. "That altar was fixed to the ground, and so is this one." To prove her point, she set the book at Drenusha's feet and braced her palms on the lip of the altar, pushing with all her strength, but it didn't move. "Then...maybe..." She broke off with a gasp and Azael was at her side instantly.

    "What is it?" He demanded. "What's wrong?" Her lips parted in shock as she pointed at the book, and he followed her finger to where a small, gnarled creature now sat upon it.

    His eyes rounded in disbelief, and the creature blinked its own bulbous amber ones. There was a strangely cunning, yet wise look in its slitted pupils. Its wooden body could only be about a hand's length tall. Tissaia's slender hand at that. It was splotched with moss and creeping green tendrils wound around its limbs in swirling patterns.

    "It's a Wisp," Tissaia breathed. "One of the Little Gods."

    The creature lifted its head and gave a tentative sniff. Then it spoke, in a low, rasping tone that was almost offsetting. "Ask."

    Tissaia's voice shook as she answered. "I knew Kaius, the Phoenix. He was friends with many of your kind. Please..." she tapped a fingernail on the book. "Do you know a safe place to put this? He and my brother gave their lives for it, and someone in the future is going to need its wisdom."

    The Wisp moved away from the book and perched on the lip of the altar, patting the stone with its tiny fingers. "Ask," it said once more.

    "Ask what, or who?" Azael replied. The Wisp's answer was silent this time. It pointed up at the statue of Drenusha, and Tissaia and Azael exchanged glances.

    "All right," Tissaia said with a shrug. "Drenusha, you sent us to retrieve this book, and now it's here. Where are we meant to take it? Where will it be safe?"

    For a time, only silence reigned. Then the altar shook, dust puffing from hidden crevices throughout it, and they watched in stunned silence as the panel of effigies lowered into the floor with the grinding of stone, revealing an empty compartment within the altar.

    Tissaia lifted the book with trembling hands and smoothed her palm across the cracking cover, then gently, set it inside the chamber. As soon as it was free of her hands, the stone panel emerged once more and locked back into place, hiding the book completely.

    Azael stiffened with worry as Tissaia turned to face him, tears already spilling down her cheeks. Wordlessly, he pulled her into his arms and pressed his cheek to the top of her head. Her tears were warm against his skin, but she made no sound.

    "It's over," he murmured. "We've done what we needed to."

    "I know. I just hope that it's worth it."

    "It will be," he assured her. "We'll make sure of it." He glanced back at the altar, but it was barren once more. The Little God hadn't even left a footprint in the dust on top of it. "Let's go home," Azael said, and Tissaia only nodded.