Joslynn looked up at the cloudy sky of Pedranus and breathed in the cool air. She’d been working nonstop for what felt like weeks, but it had barely been more than two.

It felt good to be back home even if she was alone. Even if the news from the war was slow. It had been speeding up slowly as the days wore on. Joslynn wasn’t sure what they were doing at the front, but she knew Adelina would have people working on the signals just as the queen mother worked on the receivers.

But the livestream played non-stop, showing them everything as it arrived.

The Battle to the Border was what they’d started calling that terrible fight that had demolished so many of them on their way to Khara and Adelina. Brogna was now the talk of the system.

Joslynn only cared that Sirus had survived.

No one knew how they crossed the shield into the Hai System, but then they’d received footage of meetings with the Queen and the Hand as well as Sirus and Prince William…

She wiped sweat from her forehead and started pulling weeds again. Colin watched over her, working the machinery for the larger fields for the Pedranus Seat.

Sirus had what little army she possessed.

Only a few patrolled Pedranus – there mostly for a quick warning and evacuation. She didn’t care how dangerous it was to be outside the Core’s shield. She’d needed to go home after losing the baby.

It still hurt to think about, a weight on her heart that felt as though it crushed her chest. But Joslynn had hope Sirus would survive. Then they could finally build their life together as they’d planned.

“Lady!” a servant from the Seat came running, screaming for her.

Fear shot through her and she jumped to her feet, Colin leapt from the farm machine before it had even stopped moving – running for her.

“Lady Joslynn! Word from the border! The army has crossed back into the system. The queen’s done it! She even brought down the shield!”

Joslynn looked to the skies as though she could hear and see Sirus’s ship on its way to her.

The war was over. Adelina had won.

That’s what dissolving the shield symbolized. Adelina was telling their people they had nothing left to fear.

They would live to see another day.

Joslynn wiped the tears from her eyes and ran to the castle.

Sirus would be home soon.

Sirus stood on the bridge of the Warrior’s Curse, watching as they approached Pedranus. It was the most beautiful thing he’d seen in a long while.

He couldn’t help but remember how it had all begun – much the same. Sirus had approached Pedranus to escort a countess he barely knew, not realizing then just how much his life would change.

And here he was – returning to her.

To escort her back to Draga Terra for the coronation.

Sirus remembered the first time he’d laid eyes on Joslynn. It had been raining much like it was now. The water ran in streaks across the reinforced window and his heart leapt into his throat once they broke through the cloud cover.

The Pedranus Seat.

Soon he would be returning as its lord and this would be his home. This green place full of so much life.

Then he saw the shock of red against all that green – running to him.

“Bring me as close to her as you can,” he ordered his pilot, turning on his heel.

Sirus didn’t waste time getting to the hangar. He lowered the ramp before the ship even touched the ground. Joslynn was so close and he couldn’t wait any longer. Sirus jumped from the ramp and strode straight to her.

She hit him hard, throwing herself into his arms, tears staining his jacket.

“Joslynn,” he murmured into her hair, holding her close. Sirus would never let her go again. He would spend the rest of his life by her side. And that was a promise.

“You came back to me,” she whispered, gripping him tight. “You came back.”

“Of course I did.” Sirus breathed in deep. Her scent filled his senses and she smelled like home. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t be here for you.”

Joslynn pulled back and he grinned at the scowl on her face. Gods how he’d missed the warmth of her fire. “Don’t you dare be sorry,” she scolded. “What you were doing was more important. Without what you and the others did…there wouldn’t be anything here. And you never really left me. You were here, in my heart.”

Sirus wrapped her in his arms again and kissed her hard. He would spend the rest of his life reminding her he would always be there. “You ready to see Adelina crowned?” he asked.

“I’m ready,” she said, looking back to where Colin came with a trunk between him and another servant.

Then Joslynn smiled up at him and his heart swelled. “Then we can build our life together.”

Sirus had no words. He could only nod as he escorted her into his ship – just like he had the first time.