Book 4: A New Dawn

Finn

Miralyn moves first. She crosses the room slowly and shuts Alden’s eyes. That’s the first time I realize how sore and shaking my knees are from a long night ended by standing at the foot of his bed, clutching one of the posts for support and watching Xandra’s stony face.

Her lips part around a soft sob now, caught in the first glow of morning light.

Like Miralyn broke some kind of spell, Xandra throws herself out of her chair and at me. I barely manage to unfreeze my arms in time to catch her. She impacts hard, both of us stumbling. Her chest heaves with tears.

“I’m so sorry,” I murmur into her hair.

She just holds me tighter. My chest aches. I look over her shoulder at Miralyn.

“Is her room…?”

Miralyn nods. Xandra’s room is still hers. I lift her gently. She still clings to my neck, and I begin the long walk there. The soldiers outside react dramatically when we step out. They’re waiting for news.

I think I recog