Slap. Schula smacked her arm, scowling at whatever bug had bitten her this time. 

"I am growing so tired of the pests in these woods," the white fae grumbled. 

"Sorry," I said. "If I had a few more ingredients I could try to brew something to keep them away."

She sighed and waved my concerns away. "We'll reach the Autumn lands soon enough. These pests mostly dwell in the Spring and Summer courts."

"And the unclaimed Wyldes, apparently," Spaulder mused. "Thain, how far should we still travel today before setting up camp?"

Thian, who lead the front of our marching order, paused to look up to the sky. "Not long, I don't want us to be making much noise after sundown."

I nodded gravely. My first treck through the unclaimed parts of the Wyldes was a memory of constant fright and alarm. And for good reason, the things that dwell where the four courts don't go... they aren't pleasant. 

"Ahead, do you see those rocks?" Spaulder asked from the back of the line.

I squinted to see what he was talking about.

"I do, a solid wall for our backs. We camp there," Thain answered. 

With that settled, we marched until we reached a set of rocks that rose from the ground and provided enough shelter to one side that they would be a safe resting place. Or at least as safe as any rest the unclaimed Wyldes could hold. 

I was glad to rest my feet when we finally set down our packs. With a deep sigh, Schula began pulling food from one of the last bags that held it. 

"We should have grabbed more before we left the outpost," Schula sighed.

"We should have kept that elk," Spaulder said with a short laugh. 

"We can hunt here if we need to," Thain said. 

"I don't like the idea of hunting in these parts of the Wyldes," Schula said. "How many days to Eberon's lands?"

"A while, if we have to go between the courts," Thain said. "We'll be weaving around most of the Summer lands at this rate."

I sighed and pulled Lark's book from my bag. At least I could get some reading done before the light was gone completely. Then I paused to take a wrapped spiced vegetable mix we had left from Sulls. Probably the last one, and it was very stale. 

"Caw!" Puko pestered me for some of my meal. I was happy to share for once. 

A fire was put together for now, but we would have to put it out when night fell. With all of our sleeping mats and blankets pulled out, we were as comfortable as we could be. Settling in with food and whatever else occupied us, I slowly flipped the pages of Lark's book. I must have read it a dozen times through by now. The way she saw magic was so interesting. 

I found a bottom corner and turned another page, admiring her drawing of an herb used in calming teas, when Schula spoke up. 

"Is everything alright, Nassir?" Schula asked softly. "You've been particularly quiet."

I set the book down in my lap and looked up. Nassir was sitting on his mat at the edge of our camping space, looking off into the dark trees around us. 

"I am thinking on Teyber's words," Nassir said, turning to face Schula. "My heart still aches for Lark. I imagine it forever will."

"Teyber's words... the warlock," Schula said sadly. 

Nassir turned away again, staring into the depths of the woods once more. "I do not even know if the fiend still lives. I have so little to go on and yet, I can't stop thinking about it."

"We will find out what truly happened," I said, closing my book. "There has to be a reason they were in the Wyldes. So close to Icehold."

Nassir's face turned fierce and angry for just a flash, an anger I had seen displayed on him only once. When he found out Lark's fate from Teyber.

"I do not have much purpose left in this world. My ability to create beautiful stone is made much more difficult with my eyes. My position within a triquetram is for nothing. But if I can do this one thing, I can live or leave this life in peace. It is the only thing I want."

Schula and I exchanged a look of concern. This had been weighing on Nassir since Eidelhein. It was a blow to my stomach. I should be every bit as angry as Nassir at this warlock, but I had been so focused on fixing the spill of the Wylde's dark things into the human world that I hadn't brooded over it as he had. What kind of daughter did that make me?

I shook my head. No, Lark was Nassir's triquetram. I knew what that meant now. Besides, as much love as I feel for her, I never actually met her. Nassir had, and they had a very special bond. 

"We will find the warlock," Spaulder said firmly. "We will untangle the conflict between DuVarick and the rest of the Wyldes. And, we will find out what has happened to this barrier and repair it."

Spaulder's golden eyes met mine. His determination filled me with warmth.

"Spaulder is right," Schula added. "This all stems from Icehold, I just know it. The warlock was on Winter lands, the barrier first began crumbling there, and DuVarick hides in his mountain kingdom, hiding his madness from the rest of the world. We will break open the mountain and expose it all."

Murmurs of agreement from Thain and Nassir. Puko even made a small cawing noise, then went right back to begging for food. Spaulder nodded his agreement, and I just hoped they were all right. It was a tall order, trying to fix these things that have gone so horribly wrong. And in the end, I just have to hope I even had a place in it. 

"I am fine," Nassir sighed, waving away Schula's worries. "There isn't anything to be done tonight for it. I am simply eager to reach a place where I can begin to make a difference."

"The sun sinks," Spaulder said. "We can do much more in the morning. For now, I take the first watch."

It was a signal for the rest of us to settle in to sleep. And so we laid down save for Spaulder who diligently walked a few steps away from us to observe the deep darkness around us. 

Or so I tried to sleep.

The night sounds of the unclaimed Wyldes crept on me. Stalked my dreams with fear and danger. The places in the Wyldes that went unaffected by the four courts were subject to the seasons as they ran for the rest of the world, and tonight was truly an early summer night. Warm, and humid.

I rolled and shifted on my sleeping mat. Worries about what we wanted to achieve prodded my thoughts and chased away any rest I could get.

I finally sat up, looking around the campsite. Spaulder was still out of his bed, so perhaps I hadn't been struggling as long as I thought. 

Schula and Nassir slept. Puko perched nearby. And Thain... was gone. 

I slowly got up. If sleep wouldn't come to me, I may as well try to take a turn watching. I slipped my feet into my boots, not worrying about my stockings. My pants were still on, and so was a loose tunic, though I had taken my breast band off before laying down. It was as dressed as I was going to get for the time being. 

Walking softly through the dark, I saw the outline of both of the missing males. Spaulder and Thain were up on a small hill with a clear view of our camp, as well as the area around it where something could be lurking. 

Heads turned as I approached. 

"I can't sleep," I offered the explanation before they even asked. 

Thain nodded. "This place doesn't make it easy, does it?"

Spaulder hummed. "I think there are enough eyes here to watch the camp from this side. I will go see what the far side of the rocks looks like."

"I'll keep watch here," Thain said. "But you know, can also go to sleep. I can take the rest of the night."

Spaulder chuckled. "I have slept quite a bit recently, and I find myself not needing it nearly as much in this body. I will keep watch from over there."

Spaulder walked away, winking at me and leaving Thain with a puzzled look on his face. I smiled and held my tongue.

Except, now I was alone with Thain.

My hand reached over my tunic to the small stone pendant that sat under it. My fingers played with the shape as I felt a slow warmth creep up my neck and onto my face. 

"It is good to see you again," Thain said softly. 

I looked up to him, only to see those unsettling silver eyes watching me closely. 

"I missed you," I offered. "I mean, we all did. Schula has known you a lot longer after all. And I... I guess I owe you for saving me when we first met. Well, not met because I was drowning but... Gah. I'm rambling. I mean... what I want to say is... I..."

I sighed. "I missed you."

Thain's face broke into a smile. An earnest one that spread across his face as he leaned down to meet me. His hand slipped to the back of my head, delicately guiding my head in the dark as our lips pressed together. 

A rush, my heart sped up. My fingers tightened around the stone under my shirt, until Thain's other hand covered mine and held it still. 

My eyes closed. The kiss deepened. My stomach tried to flutter up into my throat as my body tried to process the feelings in my heart. 

Thain finally ended the kiss, withdrawing slowly but keeping his eyes on me. "I missed you too."

I let a small laugh out, calming my racing heartbeat. 

"Are you still sure you want to be kissing me?" I asked. "I'm the cause of an awful lot of trouble right now. I mean, DuVarick-"

"I don't care what DuVarcik has done," Thain said. "I care about you. The clever Wren I know. The one who smiles into her tea before she takes the first sip. The one who fights for her friends, her triquetram, with everything she has. The one who dislikes parties as much as I do, but enjoys a late evening of food and dancing with her friends. The one who likes to read, who observes her surroundings with a close wonder. That is why I love you, Wren."

My eyes widened. I blinked away a dampness in them that threatened to form actual tears in shock. 

I never thought in my lifetime I would ever hear those words directed at me. Beyond Brynn's lips, I was raised believing none could love a halfbreed like me.

And yet... "I love you too, Thain."

His eyes moved slightly, showing far less surprise on the surface than I did. But I wasn't about to let him tell me a whole speech of sweet words without telling him everything I thought in turn.

"I love the way you watch over the rest of us so quietly. I love how you look when you can finally relax in the comfort of your own home. I love how Schula can't seem to get you to wear anything other than black, and how it exasperates Eberon. I love how you don't try to appease anyone else with your behaviors, how you can be so unapologetically Thain. And I've missed having you near me."

Thain brought me in, a grin on his face as he hugged me. I wrapped my arms around him tight, never wanting to let go again. Thain stroked the back of my head, probably tugging loose hair form my braid but I didn't care. 

When we finally pulled apart, his eyes drifted down to my stomach. He smirked and tapped the stone pendant under my tunic.

I breathed out a laugh and pulled the pendant free from my clothes, holding it up for him to see. "I never take it off."

"Good." Thain ran his fingers over the smooth stone. "If you feel comfortable, you can wear it in the open you know."

I looked down at the stone that settled just above my navel on it's long chain. "I've been meaning to ask, because you said something about it before, but what would it mean to wear this?"

Thain looked up from my necklace. "When Caldon offered you that smokey quartz, it would be an invitation to see one another in the way one fae courts another. A romance, an affair, whatever you want to call it. It is not unusual to wear trinkets to advertise that you are seeing someone romantically."

"Oh," I murmured. "Schula gave her blessing for me to see Caldon in that way. And the necklace, when she had me wear it to see you..."

Thain's jaw clenched and loosened. "Schula was trying to provoke me. I have no doubt she would see Caldon as a cathartic partner for you, especially after you and I fought back then. Most of the fae see courtship as a means of enjoyment, if only for now. Possibly the added honor of bringing forward a child, if one is lucky. Schula saw no harm in it, and there would be none as long as you were content with the arrangement."

I nodded, fingering the chain around my neck. "I... see. I did get the sense of that while I was in the Wyldes. But in the end I couldn't choose Caldon. I... kept thinking about you."

The blush that had subsided came rushing back onto my face. Thain smiled at that, and I knew he could see it all in the dark.

"I will admit my jealousy when I first saw Caldon's stone around your neck," Thain admitted. "Ultimately it is your choice. If you really wanted Caldon, I couldn't argue with it. But... if you would have someone like me, I can promise to love you as long as you'll have me."

I smiled, looking down to my feet from joy and bashfulness. Thain took the step forward to wrap his arms gently around me. 

"And here I thought we were steps beyond that," I said. "W-when we kissed before. And just now."

Thain slid a hand under my chin, lifting my face to see his again. "I meant it then, and I mean it now."

He pressed his lips to mine again in a gentle kiss, drawing back again so we could see each other.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I love you, Thain. But let's sort out some of the mess we're in before we go too fast, okay?"

He gave me an honest look of happiness at that, taking my hands in his. "I can agree to that. I do not move quickly anyway."

I laughed softly. "That's good. After all that has happened to me this year, and everything ahead of us, I don't think my heart could handle too many new things. I know you already know this but I don't have any experience in, um, love."

Thain nodded. "I know, and I won't let you feel bad about that. Now, it's getting late. Do you think you can get some sleep? We have a long day of hard marching ahead of us if we want to make real progress out of the unclaimed Wyldes."

I sighed. "I think I can sleep now. Thank you, Thain."

His hand reached out to briefly lace our fingers together. He let go, and crossed his arms over his chest. "Sleep well, Wren."

I gave him a small smile before turning back to the camp. "You too, Thain."

It was hard to turn away from him, right after finally seeing him again and sorting out what the kisses so many months ago actually meant to us. But I slipped back into camp without disturbing any of the sleeping fae, and once my head hit my sleeping mat, the rest of my night was peaceful sleep.