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Chapter Forty-One: Visions

North suppressed a shiver that could have come from the cold in the room, or Caius’s harsh glare. Straightening her shoulders and spine, she stood before him and crossed her arms over her chest. “You have to protect Ryland.”

Caius focused his gaze on her. “Who do you think opened the portal?”

North nodded her acknowledgement, but pressed on. She needed verbal confirmation that Ryland was safe. “We appreciate it, but you can’t let them have Ryland.”

Caius nodded just once, and the room warmed marginally. “We have no intention of returning Ryland to his realm.” He turned his gaze to Ryland, who was still clearly suffering the effects of sedation, but seemed to have regained some awareness in the last few minutes. “That means you’ll never be able to return to Nourak without facing a sentence there, Ryland.”

Ryland flinched for a moment, and then his expression turned calm. “I’m fine with that. Nourak hasn’t felt like home in decades.” He turned to North, taking