42. Epilogue

CHAPTER 42

Epilogue

E ighteen months later

Fiery tears streamed down River Waterborn's face as she sprinted through the streets of Lakewater.

Her running shoes pounded the sidewalk. Pink scrubs were plastered to her body like a second skin. Water poured from charcoal clouds, thunder roared above her, and lightning slashed through the night sky like the surgeon's blade she regularly wielded.

Her heart pounded in her chest; the lub-dub of that life-giving organ too fucking loud as it roared in her ears. Her skin was tight, and she clenched her hands as internally, she screamed and screamed and fucking screamed.

She had to keep going. Had to keep running. She couldn't let it out. Not now. Not while someone else could get hurt.

That all-too-familiar ache began in her chest as her curse whirled in her veins. Her magic throbbed, wanting to get out.

Needing to get out.

"No," she sobbed desperately. "Not yet. Not again."

Nearly a decade had passed since the last time this had happened, yet she could feel it bubbling up within her.

She should've known .

She should've seen this coming.

She was cursed. Nothing good ever happened to her.

Ever since River wielded her first drop of water magic, she knew something was wrong.

There was too much magic in her. Too much power.

And now…

A sob wrenched through her.

If she'd been in Golden City, she would've run for Ryker. Her brother could've helped her. But she'd been so stupid. So fucking cocky.

She'd assumed that between her training and Maturation, she'd gotten everything under control. She'd accepted the residency in Lakewater a year ago, and she'd been training in the local hospital since then.

But tonight…

Death had come to River's workplace. The curse had broken through the restraints she'd placed on it, bubbled up in her veins, and now…

It was all too much.

Thank all the gods, her destination came into view.

"Hold on," she told herself, taking the stairs to the townhouse two at a time.

Clenching her fists, she pounded on the door like the crazed fae she was. Seconds that felt like hours passed before the door opened.

Concerned amber eyes framed by rugged black hair met hers.

"River? What's wrong?"

Her heart throbbed, and that age-old desire that had plagued her for years rose within her. She shoved it down, that forbidden feeling not helping the situation at all.

River threw herself into his arms and sobbed, "I need your help, Nikhail."

The End

Thank you for coming along with Ryker and Brynleigh for the second half of their journey .

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Be sure to return to the Republic of Balance for Nikhail and River's story in A Curse of Stars and Storms, coming in 2025.