Chapter 50

Maeve’s POV

My gaze flicked from Draven back to the silhouette framed in the cottage doorway.

“Devon?” I whispered, disbelief trembling through my voice. He was supposed to be dead—sentenced by Draven himself and declared so by the court. Yet there he stood. My mouth curved into a stunned, joyous smile. I couldn’t contain the relief shimmering in my eyes. Without a second thought, I kicked my feet forward and raced to him. The moment I reached his side, I threw my arms around him, holding him tight.

He let out a soft groan, one hand pressing against his ribs. “Easy,” he murmured with that familiar, teasing tone. “I’m still healing.”

“How…?” I began, but the word wouldn’t come out. I hadn’t dared hope I’d ever see him alive again.

“Dead?” Devon finished for me, raising an eyebrow as though amused by my shock.

I only nodded, scarcely believing it myself.

“Honestly, I thought I’d be dead, too,” he admitted. “Galen and two other warriors