Chapter 5

Dessa knew they would have at least an hour head start to get back to Ayveri with the speed at which the envoy was going. The one upside of being on the back of a dragon instead of a horse. She and Milena raced back home, though she knew her best friend would have much rather landed right there in front of them just so she could jump into the arms of her mate after not seeing him for weeks.

Eria landed as gracefully as a dragon could in the courtyard of the palace, though the ground rumbled beneath her when she did. Arsais did the same just a few moments later with Milena worriedly looking over at Dessa. She quickly unfastened herself from the saddle, trying to get her hands to stop shaking, and jumped down.

"Des, you all right?" Milena called out to her, even as she started running for the front steps leading up to the double doors.

Doors that were just then being pulled open by her little sister Lenora, who's bright smile lit up her face as she hung on the door handle.

"Dessa!" she screamed in excitement as she tripped over her own feet in a bid to get to her faster. "You back!"

Dessa's smile was just as bright as hers. It always was when she looked at her baby sister, who she loved more than she ever knew she could before she was born. Even when she was just away for her for a few hours, she ran to her as if she'd been gone for years.

"Hey, Len," she laughed, scooping her up in her arms before peppering her face with kisses.

The three-year-old was the spitting image of their mother with their father's delicately pointed Fae ears, with her bright burgundy hair with Deverell silver streak to match, bowed lips, and upturned eyes. However, she acted so much like Dessa that it had their father rolling his eyes and groaning about how the two of them were going to cause him to go gray. Mostly because that meant both Dessa and Lenora were exactly like Lyv.

And another thing just like Lyv, while Dessa had her bloodrite bond with Eria, Lenora had been bonded with a pixie she'd named Silas. They'd been together since the day she was born three years ago just a few weeks before the Winter Solstice. Silas was actually the son of their mother Lyv's pixie Posy and their Uncle Gideon's Jett. While he looked just like Jett and his love of tea, he'd gotten Posy's light blue hair and love of books.

Len secured her arms around Dessa's neck as she kissed her cheek. "You were gone this mornin'!"

"It's called school, baby."

"School...like when Miss Savina teaches me my letters?"

"Kinda, but a little more complicated than that," Dessa laughed, then kissed her cheek again. "Where's Momma and Daddy?"

"Inside!" Len answered as she pointed back behind her. "Let's go!"

Their mother and father, however, were right there at the doors as Dessa, Len, and Milena continued up the steps as the three-year-old chattered on all about her day so far and made Dessa promise to take her flying on Eria soon. Dessa met her mother's smile with one of her own, then turned it to her father, who stepped up behind her with a hand on the small of her back.

Dessa's parents, Crown Prince Jai and Crown Princess Alyvia, might have looked like a normal mated and married couple, but they were far from it. She'd grown up on stories they told her and what others did also, of what happened when they first met and those three and a half years afterward up until Dessa herself was born. And while she got a first-hand account about the Dark Wars as their history started calling it, she also got to learn about it in university. Her parents, along with the rest of her family, fought and won against a darkness that gripped the lands, that cause chaos and pain and heartache. A war that made her parents legendary for their sacrifices.

Because not only were they prisoners of the darkness themselves, but they'd also given absolutely everything for the people and the lands they loved, which included their lives.

The one story her mother and father had yet to really tell her was how they'd come back from the land of light and shadows. Anytime she asked when she was little, they would just share a look between them, then say they would explain it when she was older. Well, she was older and they had yet to tell her. She wasn't going to push, though. Not yet at least.

When they were in the human lands of Escarral, though most knew exactly who they were, they still received many double-takes from the humans. This was because they weren't used to seeing a daughter and her parents looking just a few years apart in age. While Dessa did indeed look like the eighteen-year-old she was, her mother could have passed for someone who was twenty-five in human years while her father possibly thirty. Even though their looks were deceiving, they certainly treated Dessa like their eldest daughter and held her to exceptionally high standards. Standards she definitely kept...but still kept them on their toes all her life.

"You were up early," Lyv smiled at her when she and Len stopped at the doorway, reaching up to brush Dessa's hair behind her ear.

Dessa fought the urge to roll her eyes. "Unfortunately, I get that from you. But hey, I got my second to last paper finished."

Milena bounded up the steps beside them, grinning up at Dessa's father as she gave him a quick side hug. "And she got to pester Fin since he has to write about you, Uncle Jai."

Her father's sapphire eyes, identical to Dessa's own, narrowed slightly at the mention of Fin. "I don't like that human boy."

"You don't like any boy I happen to go out with," Dessa sighed. "You're way too overprotective. Have I ever told you that?"

"Every day. And yet you still think I'll change even with the more you complain."

"Please. I know you won't."

"Good to know you understand," he told her, finally smiling as leaned forward to kiss the top of her head. Len was wiggling in her arms when he did, reaching for him so he could take her. "Come on, my sweet baby girl. I love you most because I don't have to worry about you and those gross boys yet. You're not going to give your daddy a heart attack like your sister does on a regular basis, are you?"

Len was giggling as she shook her head, burgundy curls bouncing while Silas wrapped himself in one on her shoulder. "Never, Daddy."

Jai gave Dessa a pointed look as he turned and strode inside, making her, her mother, and Milena all start laughing.

Her mother looped her arm through hers as they followed, Milena doing the same on her other side. "I thought you two would be out longer."

While Dessa remained quiet, staring down at her boots against the ornate carpet, Milena was the one to tell her the reason why they were home.

"We saw everyone when we were at the border. They were headed this way. But while I would have gladly landed to see them first, this one turned and raced back here."

Dessa had to think of something to say. "Because I didn't want to see you and Eamon."

And at that, Milena rolled her eyes. "And you know you're going to see it as soon as he's here. Don't expect me to go out with you tonight either. He and I have got some catching up to do."

She groaned, looking over at her mother. "Make her stop, please? And if I'm ever like this with my own mate, please slap me. I give you permission and won't call it child abuse."

Lyv burst out laughing, a certain knowing look twinkling in her eyes. "Oh, I don't know about that. It's the same for all mated pairs, you know. The things your Uncle Gideon could tell you about me and your father...well, I'd be slapping my hand over his mouth before he could even get one word out."

"I'm going to slap my own hands over my ears if you don't stop talking."

Her mother couldn't stop grinning at her.

And that knowing look had yet to leave her gaze.

"We actually thought you two were them," her mother continued as the three of them walked slowly down the halls. "We'd gotten word from the boys this morning they should be here soon. You know they always cause chaos when they arrive. But to have all three of them – Eamon, Archer, and Elys – back here together...well, now it'll be even more so, especially when Archer's been gone for a year."

"I can't wait to see them all," Milena sighed, then turned a conspirator's grin on Dessa. "Right, Des?"

"Hm."

Archer, her Aunt Laurel and Uncle Michel's son, was Dessa's cousin just a year older than she was. He'd definitely taken after his father in looks and magical abilities, though he had his mother's personality. While he'd had dreams of joining Dalcaine's army just as the other two had, he had actually been away in Waiter at the hidden susurrate training school in the mountains, learning all he could that he hadn't already known from the art of using his magic for spying from his father. He's spent most of the most recent years there but hadn't been home at all this previous one since he was in the last of his in-school training. Now that he had, though, he was preparing for more within the ranks of the Dalcaine army under Eamon.

And Eamon...well, he came back home more often than any of them. Of course, it was because he had princely duties to attend to, but more recently the reasons he found in coming back home were focused on Milena. He'd joined the army as soon as he turned eighteen, quickly working his way up the ranks. How could he not when he had Jai, Gideon, and Mik training him since childhood?

Dessa's mother patted her arm as they aimed for the kitchen where they heard Lenora's giggles as her father not so quietly whispered about sneaking some chocolate before dinner. Dessa couldn't help but smile, especially when he did the same thing with her when she was little...and still did.

"Go upstairs and get changed out of your riding gear," Lyv told Dessa. "Of course, just like we always do when Eamon comes, we're meeting in the council room to hear anything new from him."

"Why change? I'd say this is pretty presentable."

But her mother just shook her head, pointing toward the archway that led to a set of stairs leading to the next floor. "Go. The both of you. And you're changing because you stink from flying for hours."

Dessa and Milena shared a look and a small smile before whining at the same time, "But Momma..."

"Go."

***

As dramatically as she possibly could, Milena flung herself back on Dessa's bed, arms and blonde hair splayed out around her, powder blue dress doing the same. "It's been two hours and they're still not here. What's taking them so long?"

"Calm down, would you? You're starting to sound like some lovesick female."

"Because I am."

"Mother hold me, you're annoying."

It had actually been more than a few hours, but Dessa wasn't going to say that as she shimmied into her dress, pulling the straps over her shoulders as she stared at herself in the mirror.

Her room had definitely changed in recent years, especially since she'd started university. Her four-poster bed dominated one wall and a wardrobe, magically extended inside thanks to her mother's magic, stood in the corner to the right just beside the doorway that led into her bathing room. The wall opposite her door was what changed most, mostly because she'd wanted more windows on either side of the balcony. Her grandmother Alexea was quick to have it done, especially when they shared the same love of the gardens it overlooked.

The wall opposite was wall to wall and ceiling to ceiling bookshelves filled with her favorite titles, both fiction and nonfiction, with a desk fit right in the center. She'd gotten her love of reading from her mother, especially since she'd started reading to her when she was just a few days old. One other thing that sat on one shelf was a small stuffed black and red dragon. A gift from a little boy who'd grown up with her from the very beginning of her life...and then disappeared from it five years before even as she screamed and cried for him not to leave her as he rode away.

Dessa's eyes quickly cut back to her best friend and her dramatics.

Milena slapped both hands against the bed before sitting up to half-heartedly glare at her. "Like Aunt Lyv said, just you wait until you find your own mate. Then I'm going to tell you 'I told you so' so many times you're going to get sick of me."

"I'm already sick of you, especially when you're being so annoying."

"Please. You love me. I'm your best friend and practically your sister. Not to mention your aunt."

"And if anyone who didn't know us heard that just now, they'd be so confused."

"Let them be confused, babe," she grinned, then looked her up and down as she turned back to the mirror. "Damn. You plan on going out after this or something? Or are you trying to impress someone?"

Dessa smoothed her hands over her own dress – the emerald green silky fabric, the deep V of the neckline and back she knew her father wouldn't approve of, and the strappy sandals she'd slipped on.

Nope, she wasn't trying to impress anyone, but she was planning on going out afterward. Mostly because she knew Milena would be preoccupied with Eamon. She figured she'd invite Fin out for the night. Not a date, of course, but it would include fancy dinner at one of the cafés on Penrose and maybe even sneak off to one of the nicer taverns where they could drink and dance. She had a feeling she would be in need of distracting.

"I think I'll see if Fin wants to go out," she replied, turning back toward her as she smoothed over the soft curls of her hair. "Gods know you're not going to want to."

Milena raised a brow. "Fin...are you starting to like him like he so obviously likes you?"

"No, we're just...friends."

"Yeah and going out together dressed like that will totally not make him think otherwise."

"Then we'll see where it goes."

"Hm."

At the sound, Dessa looked at her again. "What? What was that?"

Lifting a hand, Milena brushed some invisible dirt off the neckline of her dress. "Oh, nothing. Just thinking about something interesting."

"Interesting how?"

"Eh, I'd rather tell you later."

"I'd rather you tell me now."

"Nope."

"I say again, you're annoying."

"And yet you still love me."

***

Dessa and Milena walked side by side through the palace just a little while later. With plenty of staff milling about on their daily chores, they were stared at just as they always were. For Dessa, it was because she was the princess and daughter of the most powerful mated pair in all of Dalcaine...and because she was the only one in the royal family with no noticeable magic to display.

But for Milena, it wasn't just because she mated to Eamon, but also because of her own parentage. With her father Gideon being a full-blooded Fae male and her mother being half-sorceress and half-human, Milena was an enigma herself. Being of three different races, most didn't know how to perceive her, especially with her Fae ears and blonde hair from her father, but darker skin tone and her magic mostly being from her mother's sorceress side. She was certainly one of a kind and Milena knew how to work every aspect of herself to her full advantage, too.

As soon as they got to the ground floor and headed down the long hallway toward the council room, Milena looped her arm through Dessa's, smiling over at her as everyone continued to bow and stare. Her best friend knew exactly how she felt about it all, especially what she felt about herself. Though Dessa might have displayed total confidence on the outside, she was always so insecure inside, especially when it came to her lack of magic. She'd compensated with straight perfect marks in school, one of the best dragon riders in all Dalcaine, and one of the best trained warriors thanks to her parents and uncles.

But as soon as they turned the corner to where the council room doorway was, they were met with the excited chatter and laughter as their family greeted the two who had been away for so long.

Dessa's cousin Archer was being crushed in a hug by his mother Laurel, who kept asking how he was and if he was all right. He could hardly talk with how tight she had her arms around his neck, which made his father Michel smile and try to pull her off their son. Laurel just ended up squishing his face between her hands before kissing his cheeks.

Eamon was basically being attacked the same way by his mother, Dessa's grandmother Queen Alexea. He was able to maneuver out of her hold, though, taking his father's hand before hugging him, too.

When Dessa's father got a hold of his little brother, Jai held Eamon tight. When they were side by side as they were, they really looked alike, though Eamon was still an inch or two shorter. But while her father kept his hair longer and tied in a knot at the back of his head, Eamon's was shorter and expertly swooped back on the top, though it looked as if he hadn't shaved in a few days with the shadow of a beard that appeared along his jawline.

As soon as Jai let him go, Lyv was the next to get him, hugging him tight with a giggling Lenora in her arms, before Milena's mother Thia did, too. Her father Gideon, though, was another story. He stood just a foot away from Eamon, arms crossed, eyes narrowed...before Eamon cracked a smile that had Gideon answering with one of his own before pulling him for a hug.

That smile on Gideon's face immediately dropped as soon as he caught sight of Dessa and Milena, which had Eamon turning to look also.

And Milena...well, Dessa winced as soon as she locked eyes with Eamon and screamed in excitement, ran toward him just as he lunged for her, and jumped into his arms. She did roll her eyes as soon as Milena took Eamon's face in her hands and leaned down to kiss him.

"Make it stop," Dessa begged her uncle Gideon as she maneuvered around the mated pair. "Please."

"I'm right there with you, kid," he grimaced, then clapped his hands so forcefully it had Milena and Eamon pulling apart at the sound. "All right, that's enough."

But Thia was just grinning, shaking her head. "I think it's cute."

"Oh, sure," Gideon complained. "She's eighteen, he's twenty-nine going on thirty. How gross is that?"

Dessa's mother elbowed him in the side just as Thia smacked him on the back of the head, making him curse. "You do remember the age differences between all of us, right? Theirs is nothing compared."

"And she still calls me gramps whenever she wants to annoy me," Jai sighed. "She's even got Len doing it."

"Which I did this morning," Lyv grinned, tickling Lenora's stomach to make her giggle. "Right, baby?"

"Right," Lenora smiled, looking over at her father. "Gramps."

Jai was met with laughter rolled his eyes and glared at his mate, who just blew him a kiss, before he turned back to Eamon...who still had Milena in his arms and was kissing her again, hand gripping the fabric of her dress at the small of her back.

"Hey, enough!" Gideon told them, practically prying them apart. "Don't make me have Erly and Arsais dump you two in the bay for a cooldown because you know I will."