Page 43 of Moonmarked

“There,” said Maera, and she pointed ahead, far to our right, to the house that stood alone at the edge of the lake, surrounded by trees on all sides.

Raja’s house, exactly as I remembered it.

Tears pricked the backs of my eyes.I made it. I actually made it.

“That’s her house,” I whispered with barely any voice, and the wolves took us forward, the one who’d run ahead already there, waiting for us just by the house.

We walked slowly—or rather, the wolves did. I had all the time in the world to take in all the details, to confirm to myself that I wasn’t being tricked or lied to by my own eyes, that it was all real.

Then something moved at the side of the house.

Raja.

I recognized her, though we were still too far away to see her face clearly. I recognized the black dress she worethat covered her body entirely. I didn’t breathe as I watched her striding around her house, down the pathway that led to the deck, her head turned to us, I thought. Because she felt us. She saw us. She knew we were here.

And she stopped just there, near her backyard, shadows slipping out of her but remaining around her hands like balls of all-consuming darkness.

The wolves stopped walking.

Maera suddenly jumped off hers and offered me her hand. I wasn’t entirely sure if my legs could hold me, but I was eager to start running already, get to Raja, beg her to call for Rune, to tell him I was here.

My knees shook and my legs wobbled when I stood up, but Maera was there to steady me. The three wolves were already stationed just a couple of feet ahead, eyes on Raja.

“There. You’re in Blackwater now, Nilah.”

“I-I-I honestly don’t know how to thank you.” My voice broke, but at least I wasn’t crying.

“You already have. I’d have possibly been dead by now if it wasn’t for your kindness. We were in our last hours.”

We,she said—meaning her and her wolf.

“I’m just really glad I happened to pass by that sorcerer’s house,” I said, and I meant it. Things could have gone very differently for the both of us if I hadn’t.

“But you didn’t simplyhappento pass by. I believe the stars guided you there. They always know what they’re doing,” she said, raising her head to look up. Indeed, there were a million stars twinkling in the darkness, even though the sky had lit up just a tiny bit to announce the rising sun.

“In that case,thank the stars,” I said, laughing a little just so I didn’t cry.

“You’re pure, Nilah. Wherever the stars take you next, I pray you don’t let them corrupt you.”

I swallowed hard. “Them?”

A quick look to the side, toward Raja, and she nodded. “The fae. Most are heartless. They know no morals. Expect the worst from them every time.”

Shivers broke down my arms because I tasted the truth of those words, too.

Her hands were on my shoulders. “You will be okay. I feel it. Moon magic sings in you.” She leaned in and planted a soft kiss right on my forehead.

I felt that kiss like it was suddenly imprinted underneath my skin. And I had no idea what that even meant, but it was time to go now. Time to get to Raja, to call for Rune.

It was time for all of this madness to be over.

So, I said, “I’d really like to see the wolf again, if you don’t mind. Just to say thanks.”

The smile she gave me was as bright as the fucking sun. “Do visit me when you get the chance.”

“Oh, I will! If I’m ever in The Vale.”

“You will always have a place with the Thornevale pack,” she said, and before I could even blink, she took that white shirt off, and was completely naked in front of me again.

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