Chapter 65

Cleo stood on the balcony of her suite of rooms in the palace, watching as her grandmother and Adeena walked through the gardens below, talking and laughing and crying. She hadn't said a word to her sister after she came back from the brink of death. Not when she gripped her as tight as she could in a hug she never wanted to let go of, not when she knew she had to go through her kingdom and assess all the damage done, not when she had to meet with Urell and Janan in the council chamber to discuss more defenses to put up all along the Arloerin borders so nothing like what happened could again.

But now, the full weight of having her sister back dropped down on top of her, stealing the very breath from her lungs.

Adeena was alive.

She was Lady Addie Merlo, the female mage who Cleo had been furious with without having met her.

And she was the Lady in White, the leader of the Guild of Starlight and one of the most feared and respected assassins in all of Laria.

Cleo's knuckles went white as she gripped the balcony railing, dropping her chin to her chest as she tried to breathe, tried to tell herself that this was all she ever wanted...

Yet anger and resentment flared to life, directed at Adeena.

She'd been alive all this time and didn't even attempt to let Cleo or even her grandmother know.

And another person she was mad at? Malik. The bastard knew and never even thought to tell her.

Slow footsteps sounded behind her on the carpeted floor before pausing at the balcony doorway. A few seconds passed before she was joined by Kav. He touched the small of her back and looped both arms around her waist, pulling her back against his chest as he leaned his chin against her shoulder.

"Are you all right?" he whispered to her then.

Cleo remained silent as she shook her head once.

Kav followed where she'd been looking, seeing Adeena and Renna slowly walking through the gardens below. "You haven't said much to her after everything that happened."

"I can't," she finally managed to choke out. "Even though I've wanted her here every single day over these last hundred and twenty years, now that she is..."

"I know," he whispered, tightening his hold on her as he kissed the side of her neck.

"Why didn't they tell me?" she asked. "Why didn't Adeena come home? Why didn't Malik at least tell me about her? Why have me thinking my sister was dead this whole time, knowing how much I was hurting because of it?"

"From what I know, and I'll admit it's very little, there wasn't a way for Adeena to. Dark magic tied her to my mother, a curse of sorts that's now broken. You know that necklace she always wears? That's how she kept control of her...and what bound her to that death god Fin. My mother..."

"Is it true?" Cleo asked him then, turning in his hold to grip the front of his tunic. She looked up into the same light hazel eyes he shared with his mother. "About Sophea, I mean."

Kav nodded, reaching up to brush her hair back behind her ear. "It is. Whatever magic that had hold over her, too, is now gone. She's...she's completely different than the female I've grown up with," he told her. "But about Malik and him knowing about Adeena...well, I think he never told you because it wasn't his secret to tell. He wanted to. I know he did. He just couldn't."

Leaning her forehead against his chest, Cleo heaved a sigh. "I'm still going to be mad at him, though."

His laughter wrapped around her as he drew her closer. "I don't blame you. I'm still pissed at him on your behalf as well."

"Want to beat him up with me when he gets back?"

"Two on one? He wouldn't last ten seconds."

"Then it's settled."

Kav laughed again as he kissed the top of her head, making Cleo smile against him.

They stood there for what could have been seconds or hours until she pulled back to look at him, then leaned up to kiss him softly. "Thank you for coming to help me save Arloerin," she murmured against his lips. "Now the people have even more love for you...but they're no match for mine."

"Of course," Kav told her, cradling her face in his hands, fingers brushing her hair behind her ears. "You never have to ask when it comes to it. Arloerin is my home, too."

"And do you still want to be by my side forever?"

"You know it, my queen."

Cleo kissed him once more and whispered, "Then ask me again."

Dark brows pulled together, Kav looked at her curiously when he leaned back, then realization flickered in his gaze. "Ask you a certain question you've told me no to probably thousands of times by now?"

She nodded, swallowing the emotion that clogged her throat. "Ask me again."

But he didn't right out there on the balcony.

Instead, he pulled her inside, dropping her hand as soon as they were in her bed chamber, and went to dig something out of his bag he had left by the wardrobe. She couldn't see it as he gripped it tight in his fist and slowly made his way back over, only to stop three feet in front of her.

"I've had this on me every day since the day after that first night with you," Kav told her then, holding out his enclosed hand to her.

One by one, he opened his fingers to reveal a beautiful ruby ring. The gold band was in a thin swirling pattern, dotted with tiny diamonds, almost exactly like the pattern of her tattoos. He definitely knew her favorite color.

"Kav," she breathed out, reaching out a hand to touch it.

He grinned, snatching it away before she could. "Nope, I'm actually going to do this properly," he told her with a wink, then dropped down to one knee, reaching for her left hand. "Cleo Lucerra Brandt..."

"You have to go with the full title, please."

His laugh echoed throughout her rooms, making her heart almost burst at the sound.

"Queen Cleo Lucerra Brandt of Arloerin," he corrected. "I have loved you since the first day I met you right here in this very palace twenty years ago. Of course, I couldn't exactly ask you this question then since I was only nine years old, but I am now. I've loved getting to know Arloerin and its people, your Elite and your guardsmen, and the family you've created here with your grandmother, Janan, and Urell, plus everyone else here in this beautiful kingdom. Now, I want to officially be a part of that family...if you'll have me, of course."

She nodded, even though it wasn't the question she was waiting on.

Kav gave her another breathtaking smile as he slid the ring on her finger. A perfect fit. "So, my best friend, my love, my heart, my mate...will you finally say yes and marry me?"

Cleo just stared and stared at the ring, at his hand in hers, and finally at that smile that had her reaching down to curl her hand in his tunic to drag him back to his feet in front of her. She still didn't give him an answer as she stretched up on her toes to kiss him, her left hand on his cheek, her shadows wrapping around them both, the ruby sparkling when she pulled back to smile at him.

And then finally whispered, "Yes."

***

An hour passed before they walked hand in hand down the main corridor of the palace. Though she would have gladly spent the rest of the day alone with him in her rooms, they had their responsibilities to attend to, so she gave him the promise of consummating their engagement later that night. That didn't mean he didn't try, though. She almost gave in, too. Almost. But he'd been right about one thing. She needed to talk to Adeena alone, just the two of them.

"Are you going to be all right?" Kav asked her as they stopped at the doorway leading out to the back patio.

"I think so," she nodded, her eyes lifting to the gardens where she heard the soft voices of her sister and grandmother getting closer. "I need to do this by myself, though."

He leaned over to kiss her temple. "Just hear her out. Don't do or say anything you'll regret later."

"I'm still angry at her."

"I know. I am, too."

"And I'm angry at Malik also."

"Trust me when I say I almost took him out when I learned everything."

"You're going to find him now, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"Hit him on the back of the head for me, would you?"

"I'd do anything for you...and I'll knee him in another place that will have him singing soprano for a week, too."

Cleo managed to huff out a laugh as Kav lifted her left hand, kissing her knuckles right below her ring.

"You'll be fine," he promised. "I'll see you later, all right?"

"Dinner's in three hours, so don't be late, especially when we have guests."

Kav winked at her then as he walked backward away from her. "And then dessert's later tonight."

Cleo didn't even fight her eyeroll as they parted.

The voices of her grandmother and Adeena were getting closer and closer, making her freeze on the spot. They were still talking, laughing about a story Renna had been telling. It had been a long, long time since Cleo had been jealous of anyone, but seeing as how Adeena was already so comfortable with Renna had that angry knot reforming in her stomach.

Adeena's eyes immediately found Cleo's as they finally rounded the corner and she came to a halt.

Lips pressed together in a hard line, Cleo looked her up and down with narrowed eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest. She was changed out of her Lady in White leather gear and now in a flowy dress she must have brought from Krahzara. Even though she wanted to look away...gods, she couldn't. Not when she'd imagined what her sister would be like. Not when she was so beautiful, so alive. And even with her reputation as the Lady in White, Adeena still looked nervous. Maybe even scared.

Their grandmother looked between the two of them before leaning over to kiss Adeena's cheek. "Go talk to your sister. You've got even more catching up to do with her."

"She's got a look about her."

Renna smiled at Cleo, a smile she knew well. One that said Be nice. "She's harmless, especially when it comes to family."

"You won't stay?"

"You're a grown female."

"Still..."

Kissing her cheek again, she just smiled. "You'll be fine...but if it makes you feel better, know I'll be just inside. And if you two start fighting like you used to when you were little..."

"You still remember those?"

Renna threw her head back and laughed. "Of course, I do! How could I not when you reminded me so much of your parents?" she told her, then gave her another tight hug before whispering words Cleo could barely hear. "I've missed you, little one, and just know I have and will always love you."

Adeena seemed startled by her words and blinked rapidly as she sniffled. "I love you, too."

Renna turned and started up the patio steps, heading straight for Cleo. Though she didn't look at her straight ahead, she could see her rolling her eyes as she leaned in to kiss her cheek. "This is what you've always wanted, my darling. And your sister...gods, she's even more wonderful than either one of us could have ever imagined."

She would have to see for herself.

The twin sisters made no move toward each other, not until Adeena took one step forward.

Cleo took one back, not wanting to get close. She knew if she was within arms' length...gods, she would fall completely apart.

Brows knitting together, Adeena took another step. "Cleo..."

"No," Cleo managed to get out as her voice cracked. Her shadows appeared around her, creating a protective shell. They were trying to calm her racing heart and mind and doing absolutely nothing for her. Her anger and panic flared until it was all she could think of, making her lash out. "You left me, Adeena. You left me and didn't come back."

Adeena didn't need any sort of elaboration just by the flash of knowing in her eyes. "We were four, Cleo," she said to her softly. "I couldn't exactly manage to get myself back from Krahzara even if I tried to. And gods above, did I want to. I wanted to every single day over this last hundred and twenty-plus years. I couldn't leave. And if you'd just let me tell you what happened, why I couldn't..."

They were four, children barely out of the toddler stage, still joined at the hip like any other set of twins were. She remembered absolutely everything about her sister from then – her smile, her laughter, the way she was so animated when she spoke, the way she sometimes couldn't control her anger and her magic over the mind.

But now...now, she was so much more. A fully grown, absolutely stunning female who was cool and calm and had complete control over everything. And just what she saw from earlier that day, how she moved and fought with both blade and magic, Cleo understood first hand why people both feared and respected her. What would it have been like to see the Lady eliminate someone with barely a flick of a finger?

Even though Adeena might not have been able to come home to Cleo and their grandmother until she broke the dark curse that bound her with Sophea, she could have sent something to let them know she was still alive. Then again, if she had, Cleo would have stopped at nothing to get her sister back. But what would that have meant if she came charging into Krahzara on Ollyn with Odanth right beside them? She might have started a war with the eastern kingdom.

She understood. Gods, she understood why Adeena couldn't come back or even get away after she flooded her mind with her own memories of her time away. How she'd brought herself back, flashes of her grandfather Evander, meetings with Sophea, the Guild of Starlight...everything. And now that she had, finally freeing herself from the magical binds to Sophea – Sophea, who she was going to have a very difficult time seeing as someone other than the female she'd known and despised for so long – her sister was with her again. Had come to help her, to save her from the dark god named Fin who'd come to kill her.

Only for her to take that godsforsaken dagger to her own chest.

"You left me," Cleo said again, her voice dropping to a whisper even she could barely hear. "And then you did it again when you took that dagger for me."

Adeena took another step, then a few more until she was right in front of her, reaching up to take her face in her hands. This time, Cleo didn't move away. She couldn't, not when she was staring at the one person she missed so much for almost her whole life.

Reaching up, Adeena gently took her face in her hands, leaning her forehead against hers. "I would do absolutely anything for you, Cleo. But like I said then...death doesn't hold me, so don't think it'll ever be the reason I leave your side again."

And with that, Cleo lost every bit of self-control, let go of every bit of her anger, and burst into tears.

"Cleo..." Adeena choked out. "It's all right. You and I are both perfectly fine and we're here. Together. You don't have to..."

"I missed you," she cried, wrapping her in a tight hug. "I missed you so much, Adeena, you have no idea."

She nodded against her. "I know. I missed you, too. But I'm here."

Another strangled sound came out. "You're here."

"And I'm not leaving you again, all right?"

"You better not or else I'll..."

"Or else you'll what?"

"I...I don't know. I'll think of something."

Adeena's bright peal of laughter sounded in her ear, neither one of them letting go of the other. As the seconds turned to minutes, Cleo managed to quiet her crying, though her cheeks were still slick with tears. Her mind and her heart were finally settling into a quiet peace that even had her shadows caressing around both of them before disappearing.

Cleo let out a slow breath and pulled back from Adeena, though she still kept her arms around her. She wanted to look at her without there being a fight going on around them, where she could take the time to familiarize herself with the one person who'd she'd been dreaming about for so long, wishing she was with her again. Now...now, that wish was coming true.

She couldn't stop herself from reaching up to trace her face with her fingers, brushing along her cheeks and her jawline, her nose and her brow, just below her emerald green eyes. Curling her silvery blond hair around her fingers, she marveled at the color, identical to her own, though she was looking at it as if she were seeing it for the first time.

What really had her pausing was when her magic, both light and dark, finally took the chance to reach out and gently caress Adeena's. They curled together, greeting one another as if they were meeting for the first time...before they seemed to recognize each other.

Cleo and Adeena both smiled at the same time, then leaned their foreheads together again, eyes locked.

"We've got some curious onlookers," Adeena whispered to her then, reaching up to wipe away her tears.

She turned back toward the palace, noticing there were several staff peeking out from behind curtains, cleaning windows that weren't even dirty, trimming shrubbery by taking off just a few leaves. Even their grandmother Renna was still standing at the patio doors, trying to hide behind them, though she quickly turned to disappear inside.

"Nosey. Shamelessly nosey."

Cleo did want time alone with Adeena, though. Not wanting to let go of her for fear she'd disappear right before her eyes, she reached down to grip her hand in hers and they walked together into the palace.

Every person they passed froze on the spot, seeing Cleo and Adeena walking hand in hand for the first time, noticing the power that radiated all around them. Adeena barely noticed them, though. Instead, she was looking at everything as they walked down the hallway toward Cleo's office – the ornate carpeted floors, the wallpapered and wood paneled walls, the paintings that hung all around.

"This place has changed so much since the last time I was here," Adeena said, smiling over at Cleo. "Though anything would be better than the ruins it was in, right?"

"Sometimes, I'm not so sure," Cleo answered as she ran her fingers along the walls, brushing against the artwork frames until they came to her office doors. Pushing it open, she let Adeena go through first before closing it behind them. "Back then, we might have had next to nothing, but those were some of my fondest memories. Me and you, exploring the ruins of the palace, our imaginations running away with us."

"And Odanth and Ollyn gladly taking part in all of our stories of princesses and their dragons, fighting off any intruders who dared to tried to invade."

"Gods, everything was so much simpler then."

Adeena had gone silent for a moment, taking in the massive room, the furniture and bookshelf after bookshelf, before she turned back to her. "But everyone was still hurting. Now, they want for nothing since you've given them everything."

Cleo shrugged a shoulder as she made her way toward the plush sofa situated in front of the hearth. She sunk down into it, leaning her head against the back as she closed her eyes. "I try."