The Tracker (21 page)

“Good travels,” Arden said, and all inclined their heads in farewell.

The duke slipped away to the campsite. Two voices mumbled back and forth, and footsteps rapidly faded to nothing. Arden and Volos looked at one another, and then joy stole over Arden at this unexpected grace. They would not be followed. Neither belonged to anyone. No one would even know that they lived, and everything, everything was possible now.

“Let’s not keep our family waiting, shall we?” Volos asked, taking Arden’s hand. “It’s a long trip.”

“Not so long,” Arden said as they walked into the green. Already he could see them coming to the goddess rocks and going past them to the pearls. To the shouts on the mountains of the tracker returned, his brothers and mother pushing through the floods of people to see this miracle for themselves. Smiles and cries, laughter and open arms, and Volos bringing Arden into the embrace. The celebration would go on and on long into the night.

And then the stars would light them home.

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Also by Jordan Reece:

The Seer