Akira heard the whisper before she saw her. Tara. She’d returned.

“Ehren, put me down,” she said.

“Kira?” he asked.

“Please, just put me down,” she replied.

Ehren nodded and complied. He moved to help her but she shook her head. He nodded his understanding but stayed close to her side.

“Levi, it’s ok,” she told the wolfdog. “She’s a friend.”

She laid her hand on his head and he moved aside.

“Tara? Why did you come back?” She asked making her way to where she knelt in the hall.

Each step was torturous and slow. She held her hand out to her and was promptly and rather roughly shoved aside. She stumbled and fell, her back hitting a pedestal as she fell. She screamed. She could feel more stiches tearing. She could feel blood sliding down her back, yet again. This was becoming a habit, albeit a bad one. She looked at the man who had shoved her away. He seemed surprised. Ehren knelt next to her.

“Are you ok?” he asked.

She sucked in a sharp breath.

“Help me up,” she murmered.

He did as she asked and Levi came to them. He placed himself between her and the man who had shoved her with a menacing growl. Akira placed her hand on his head and he quieted, but only a little. She gave a half-smile.

“Ehren, get your uncle,” she told him. “My stitches have split pretty bad. They’re going to need to to be resewn.”

Ehren said nothing.

“What?” she asked.

Again, he said nothing.

“Ehren stop glaring at the man and look at me,” she told him sternly.

He didn’t listen.

“Drayce Ehren!” she snapped.

At the sound of his first name, Ehren’s attention snapped to her.

“Take me to my room, then go get your uncle,” she ordered. “Stop dawdling or I’m going to lose more blood than I can afford to! Kai, come to me.”

The large, black wolfdog made his way to her, slowly. He didn’t like strangers, she knew, but she wanted him close to her right now. When he was at her side, she turned back to her goddess.

“Take care of them, Frejya,” she said.

Frejya came and stood in front of her. She placed a hand on her cheek.

“Little Ylva, I shall care for them forever and always,” she replied.

Akira gave a weak smile. Frejya moved her hand to the top of her head.

“My child, you are loved by so many,” she whispered. “Never forget that.”

Akira nodded.

“Now for a blessing.”

Akira went to kneel.

“No little Ylva, there is no need for you to kneel in your state. I, Frejya, bless this child of Mavi Eames. May she endure no more pain. May she find all that she seeks. And may she always have the companionship of my children, the wolfdogs. Akira Asena-Mavi Eames, may all who meet you know who you are and whom you serve.”

Frejya ended her blessing with a kiss to her forhead.

“I must go now, my little Ylva,” she said before turning to Ehren. “I know you do not follow the same beliefs as my Ylva, but I can see you care for her a great deal.” Ehren nodded at this so she continued. “I want you to protect her when they cannot.” She nodded to Levi and Kai. “You will make a damn fine king one day. I can see that clearly.” She turned to Akira. “Never give up. And keep him in line, will you?”

Akira gave her a half-smile and an eye roll along with a nod. Freyja gave a nod of satisfaction before rounding on the man that had shoved Akira.

“As for you,” she said with a stern glare. “Be more careful who you shove out of the way protecting your wife. You never know when such an action will anger a god or goddess. Today, you are lucky. This house has seen enough pain and death to last a century. It did not need more.”

With one last muttered blessing and a string of curses, Freyja vanished. Akira shook her head. Her goddess was just as unpredictable as the sea.

“Come Kai, Levi,” she murmered. “Let’s leave Teylie to keep vigil. I am tired and my back feels like it’s on fire. Besides, goddess’ orders are to rest and heal. Though I’m sure this has done far more harm than good.”

Levi snorted in agreement.

“Help me boys. I fear I’m losing too much blood.”

With that, she shuffled around the visitors in the hall and to her room. Once there, she practically collasped onto her bed.