Chapter 64

Adeena felt more exposed than she ever had in her life as she walked through the streets of Arloerin with Malik by her side. Every face turned to her as they passed, eyes widening, heads bowing, whispers following about how this female was none other than their beloved queen's twin sister and had also been Lady Addie Merlo and the Lady in White.

She was tired of having so many names. All she wanted to be known as was Adeena Lucerra Brandt now and finally be her true self.

It had only been a few hours since Fin's attack on the city. After cleaning up at the palace and changing into a more comfortable dress, she found Malik on the other side of her door just about to knock. Everyone else had apparently cleaned up and promptly fell asleep even in the middle of the afternoon, but the two of them were too wound up to. So, instead of hanging around, they decided to walk off that extra energy.

Adeena had to appreciate the Arloerin citizens resilience. Though they did lose some of their own, they still managed to pull together and clean up the city until it was just as bright and sparkling as it was before.

"I don't think I'll ever not be amazed by these people," Malik said to her as they passed one shop owner who was taking down a protect ward around the entire building hers was in. "Not just with what happened yesterday, but what almost all of them went through in the very beginning when Arloerin was just the ruins of a long forgotten city."

"Were most of them here then, too?" Adeena asked, genuinely curious. "I don't remember many from when I was here."

He nodded in answer. "The majority, yes. They helped Cleo not only secure it, but build it up into what it is now. Then you have those who sought refuge here from not only the other kingdoms here in Laria, but those who found themselves here from the Wilds in Ethran. And by the looks of it...they're going to have a few others joining in their ranks."

Adeena smiled, thinking of the home she'd already purchased in one of the neighborhoods closest to the southern gate, which allowed her easy access to the wide stretch of vineyard lands so she could spend time with Odanth. "Grandfather should be here in the next two weeks, but I haven't had the chance to tell my grandmother about him. I haven't had the chance to really talk to her either...and I'm nervous to."

"You don't have to be. She's missed you and Evander just as much as Cleo has. I want to stay here until that happens, too. And you can't forget about the Guild moving here. Unofficially, of course. Wonder how Cleo's going to take that since she always used to joke about seeing if the Lady in White would want to move her guild here instead of having to be under my mother's thumb."

Surely he couldn't have been serious. "What's a few assassins, huh?"

Malik snorted before leaning over to kiss the side of her head. "I'm going to miss you being around Krahzara, but I know you belong here with Cleo. You deserve it, Adeena. To get to know your sister and finally be able to stay by her side."

"It's not like you won't be around either," she told him with a wink.

He raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

A slow smile curled at the corner of her lips. "Now I know why you've been so fixated on Janan, even without the bond I know you two share. She's stunning."

Oh, would she always enjoy seeing Malik's face turn bright red. "Nothing's happened on that front."

"It's been almost twenty-five years since you met her...you think you've taken long enough to ask her out on one little date?"

"Not with what she went through in Rezuvell with the king."

Well, he had her there, especially knowing just what King Nishan liked to do with his consorts. Adeena would gladly take care of the male should Janan say the word, no contract or coin needed. "Just talk to her, Malik. Have you ever had a conversation with her and it be just the two of you?"

"Come to think of it...we haven't."

At that, Adeena's laugh rang out, making all heads turn in her direction and faces brighten at the sound and the even darker shade of red Malik's face turned, which went yet another shade darker when a familiar leopard came bounding up to them. Shamira, looking much better than she had just a few hours earlier, almost immediately stopped in front of Adeena, looking up at her with clear eyes that seemed to recognize her and say Well, finally you're yourself.

Adeena immediately grinned and leaned down to scratch along her jaw. "Well, hello, beautiful. You're looking much better than you were when I first saw you."

A deep purr resonated through her chest as her eyes sparkled.

"Where's Janan, huh?" she continued, eyes flickering up to Malik. "Someone wants to walk her back to the palace...and take the long way back."

Shamira's eyes went to the Krahzaran prince before she shifted and nudged between them, curling around Malik's legs as he scratched the top of her head.

"There you are. Shamira, what did I tell you about running off on me like that, huh? Especially after..." Janan cut herself off, finally seeing who her leopard familiar was greeting. "Oh, I didn't realize..."

Her sister's second-in-command...well, as soon as Adeena saw Malik and Janan in such close proximity, it was hard not to recognize the flicker of a bond between them. Even the orc Urell, who appeared just behind Janan, seemed to notice now that they didn't have Cleo in the mix to defect it. But the orc's eyes were narrowed in on Adeena, who tried her best to keep her smile on her face.

"It's all right," Adeena told her, standing up straight again, her arm still in Malik's. It was hard not to notice the way Janan's eyes flickered down her hold. "Malik and I were just walking through the city, making sure everyone had what they needed."

"Seems we're doing the same," Janan smiled, finding it hard to look up at Malik so she just kept her eyes on Adeena as she stepped forward.

Urell grunted beside her, arms crossed over his broad chest, almost like he was warning her not to get any closer to the assassin who just happened to be their queen's long lost sister.

But the second-in-command didn't acknowledge the warning, reaching out to take Adeena's hand in hers. "Even though I know you two haven't spent any time alone together since this morning...gods, you don't know how happy I am for Cleo to have you again. We might not have the whole story just yet about everything that's happened over this century and more you've been apart, but you're here."

Janan's words had a lump forming in her throat and tears burning in her eyes. "I'm sorry I couldn't come back to her sooner."

Her smile then was absolutely blinding. "But then you two would have been two completely different people than you are now. Maybe it was meant this way for you to have the experiences you did in order to be what you need to be for each other now. You'll have time, Adeena. You'll have plenty of it to catch up, to be her sister again."

"Thank you," she whispered, then stepped forward slowly to give her a hug. "You don't know how much your words mean to me."

"You're absolutely welcome," Janan answered, squeezing her tight. "Now, you wouldn't mind if I steal the crown prince away from you, do you? There are a few shop owners who need to have a word with him about goods they'll need to have restocked..."

"Never," Adeena said with a laugh as they pulled back, looking over at the male in question. "And I'm sure he wouldn't mind either."

Malik reached up and ran his fingers through his hair, even as Shamira still circled around his legs. Janan then gave him the first real smile Adeena had seen from her...and she could have sworn she heard her friend's heart tumble in his chest.

"No, I wouldn't," Malik finally as he stepped closer to Janan, turning to lift his arm up to her.

She took without any hesitation as they started slowly down the street, Shamira trotting closely behind.

Adeena's small, knowing smile immediately vanished as soon as she met Urell's still narrowed eyes. Though the stance she took then wasn't defensive in the slightest, she still wasn't going to back down from his attempts to intimidate her.

But finally, after a tense ten seconds, his shoulders relaxed as he nodded his head to the side in the direction Malik and Janan disappeared to. "Have you known about those two as long as I have?"

"Probably a little longer," she told him, her smile growing once more. "He told me about her right after they first met. I think it was just a year or two after she came here to Arloerin."

"Then you know I'll do whatever I need to in order to protect her. Her and Cleo, for that matter."

"And I wouldn't have it any other way," Adeena said quietly, taking those few steps that separated them. The closer she got, the tenser the orc became. "I do have to say one thing to you, Urell."

His jaw was so tightly clenched he almost drew blood from where his fangs bit into his skin. "What?"

Lifting her hand, she gently placed it on his arm. "Thank you. For being right at Cleo's side through absolutely everything, even when I wasn't. You've protected not only this city, this entire kingdom, but you've kept my sister safe as well. I will never be able to repay you for that."

Urell as silent as he looked down at her hand...and then covered it with his own as he met her gaze again. "There's no need. I would do anything for that female. But the only thing I ask of you is...just don't leave her again. Even after all this time thinking you were dead, she wanted nothing more than for you to be right there beside her to share it all."

Swallowing hard, Adeena nodded without any hesitation. "Now that's a promise I can keep."

***

Adeena found herself alone for the first time in...well, a while. She hadn't passed Malik and Janan again as she continued through the city or even Urell, who claimed he was going to get reports from his guardsmen when she had a feeling he was really going to stalk the two of them from a distance. And though she smiled and nodded to everyone she crossed paths with, she still found herself avoiding the once place she knew she needed to be.

The Arloerin palace.

Even as she made her way toward it, she still managed to sneak into the back gardens away from every set of curious gazes. The people were all right...but the palace staff were a different story. Earlier, when Malik was showing her to one of the guest rooms so she could get cleaned up and changed, everyone froze on the spot as soon as they saw her, recognized her face, the white leather she wore. But there in the gardens, she was able to hide out without anyone finding her until she found them.

And her first find – her very own dragon and his twin brother.

Odanth was still worrying over Ollyn, having seen the massive bolt that had taken him down just as she did. He was eyeing his wing as he stretched it out, sniffing at the joint before poking at it with his nose, making Ollyn growl and snap at him in annoyance. But as soon as Odanth caught sight of Adeena, his eyes lit up as he managed to not trample any shrubbery on his bid to get to her, though the sweeping of his tail did almost take out one of the trees.

"What are you doing to him, huh?" Adeena smiled as Odanth curled around her, nuzzling the side of his head against her stomach. "Are you being an overprotective brother, even though he's perfectly fine now thanks to Dessa's healing magic?"

Odanth hummed against her, smoke curling out of his nostrils.

Ollyn was who she was looking at then, the twin dragon to her own, the one she hadn't seen since she was four just as it had been with Odanth. But while she'd had weeks to spend with her own bloodrite bonded dragon, her sister's was instantly hesitant. Of course, he recognized her, but he was still suspicious.

Until Adeena stepped forward with a gentle nudge from Odanth, holding out her hand for Ollyn. He lowered his head, stretching out until he was just centimeters from her palm, and his eyes narrowed just slightly more...before he finally caught her scent and realization finally clicked in. And just as Odanth did when she'd first met him again, Ollyn hummed happily as he curled himself around her, burying his massive head against her stomach.

"Oh, I missed you, too, Ollyn," Adeena murmured as she leaned down to kiss him between his eyes. "Just like Odanth, you've been taking good care of Cleo, haven't you?"

He hummed again.

"Both of them have, actually."

Adeena and both dragons started at the voice from behind, turning in unison to meet the slight smile of her grandmother Renna.

Odanth and Ollyn moved back as she walked down the hedge lined path, but Adeena was stuck in place. She couldn't stop staring at her, even though she'd seen her just hours before, got to be in her arms for the first time in so long. But this time, they would be able to actually talk without a fight raging around them.

First, though, Adeena was in desperate need of another hug.

She all but stumbled toward her grandmother, immediately curling up against her chest as soon as she was within reach, holding her tight and never wanting to let go. Renna was crying softly as she kissed the side of her head, caressing her hair, now loose in a cascade of curls down her back.

"Are you all right?" she asked Adeena, her voice clogged with tears. "And I don't just mean after all this time. Cleo told me what happened...how you..."

"I'm fine," she answered, squeezing her gently. "Promise."

"Let me look at you," she said then as she pushed her back by the shoulders, then took her face in her hands. Renna's eyes traced over every inch of her face, down her bare arms, and then the rest of her. Just as she'd told her, she was fine. "Gods, it really is you. I never thought I'd see you again, not until..."

Adeena gripped her hands, still against her face. "I'm sorry for everything," she managed to say then, her voice tight with emotion as tears prickled in her eyes. "You have to know I would have found my way back if I could have. Dark magic tied me to Sophea, though, and I couldn't do anything she didn't want me to. But now...now, I'm free from her...and she's free from the darkness that held her, too. And now that I am...I get to come home to you. To you and Cleo. If you'll have me, of course."

"How could you think we wouldn't?" her grandmother demanded, almost sounding upset she would ever think such a thing. "But you still haven't spoken to your sister, have you?"

Adeena shook her head as a nervous knot twisted in her stomach. "Not since she had to leave after the fight. She's queen of Arloerin and has bigger responsibilities than speak with her long lost sister she believed was dead for over a century."

"Well, then both of you seem to still have that stubborn streak your mother had...because she's been up in her rooms for the last hour. That, plus I think she's just as nervous as you seem to be, too."

Her eyes dropped to her feet as she tucked her hair behind her ear. "I don't know how she's going to be able to separate me from my...alternate identities."

Renna surprised her by letting out a laugh, one that instantly brought her back to her childhood. "Granted, she's been a little put out since everyone was talking about how much they loved Lady Addie Merlo. But when it comes to the Lady in White, she used to joke about seeing if you wanted to move your guild here instead of being in Krahzara and how you two would be unstoppable if any of the other Larian kingdoms tried to threaten Arloerin."

"Seriously?" she gaped.

"Oh, I am," she nodded, the looped her arm through hers and turned them down the garden path once more. "Now, come. Tell me everything."

So, she did.

She told her everything she could think of, knowing she probably left some details out but would have plenty of time to tell her more now that she was home. Everything from what happened when she reached Krahzara, her training with the Guild of Starlight, having to work as Sophea's personal assassin while leaving out the majority of the details, and especially about how she'd trained and honed her magic throughout all her time. She even told her about the other assassins within the Guild...and even how she was moving them there to Arloerin.

"They'll be on their best behavior," Adeena promised. "I've never allowed them to take assignments here. I think Warek and Urell might hit it off, though, and learn a few things from each other."

Her grandmother was smiling at her joking tone, but it didn't reach her eyes.

It was then Adeena realized she'd never told her about really happened that night all those years ago when she and her grandfather were taken from them.

And...she hadn't told her that Evander was still alive...and was on his way home to them at that very moment.

Adeena pulled them to a stop as soon as they approached a smooth marble bench, sat down on it, and reached over to grasp both of her grandmother's hands. "I need to tell you something else."

Hearing the change in her voice, she was instantly worried. "What is it, my darling?"

"The night I was killed...when Grandfather was, too..." Adeena's fingers tightened around hers. "I wasn't just able to bring myself back from death...but I was also able to bring him back, too."

The tears that had threatened to fall from Renna's eyes were now on the verge of falling. "W-what?"

"Grandfather Evander...he's been with me this whole time, living in Krahzara. He's alive and finally back to his old self after so long," she told her, wiping away her own tears that began streaking down her cheeks. "Something happened when I brought him back. It was my fault, but how could I have known at four? I didn't want him to leave me, both of us...stuck in the in-between, as I like to call it. I made him come back, but he didn't fully. He's been so lost, not like anything I remember from before. The only way I knew he was still there was by his paintings. The walls of the Guild are covered in them. His paintings and his humming floating throughout every room. He hasn't sung like I remember he used to, like those nights when he was trying to get me and Cleo to sleep. Taking him into the in-between seemed to help him sort through the mess of his mind and I think he's finally whole again. When I got home after I left Arloerin before...he was Grandfather again. And I can't tell you how much I missed him, even though he was right there with me."

Her grandmother was silent all through her ramble, tears falling as she listened. Adeena waited for several moments before she finally looked back up with her, almost wishing she'd yell at her for keeping not only herself but her grandfather from coming back to her and Cleo, even though she told her the reason as to why she couldn't.

But Renna just remained silent, twisting her wedding ring around her finger on her left hand.

Before she burst into heart wrenching sobs as she yanked Adeena forward into another hug. "I knew it!" she sobbed. "I knew my Evander couldn't have been gone. I might not have felt him so clearly, but he was there. Even after all this time, he was there."