Chapter 16

In the blink of an eye, two days had flown by. The moment had arrived for my first visit to Lorelei’s place.

I won’t lie, I was a tad jittery as Navine and I soared over the mountain range. But my excitement was the stronger emotion. I was on the brink of experiencing the dwelling of another Alpha Dragon for the first time, and hopefully forging a new bond with one of them.

Navine voiced his hopes. “I trust you’ll have a pleasant day with Lorelei. I’m not thrilled about you being away, but I know she’ll treat you well.”

I reassured him. “I’ll be okay, Navine. You know where I am, and I can reach out to you if I need anything.”

He conceded with a satisfied smile. “Yes, yes. I know. I’m just a tad overprotective, that’s all.”

I planted a kiss on his cheek. “You are, but it’s endearing.”

My gaze drifted to the mountain range beneath us. It was blanketed with trees, their mix of light and dark green leaves resembling a work of art. I wondered how far we were from home.

We seemed to have been flying for quite some time, and the air felt warmer than when we’d left. “Are we there yet, Navine?” I asked.

“Not much longer. Lorelei’s home is right on the edge of the Southern Lands. If you were visiting Mordecai, it would be the exact opposite. His home is at the northernmost point,” Navine clarified.

“Really? That’s fascinating. What about Lord Niles and Lord Dominick? Are they nearer to our home?” I queried.

Navine nodded. “Yes. Niles’s home is on a mountain a few miles from ours. Dominick’s is closer to Lord Jekia’s. He has a large mountain in that area that he calls his own.”

“There is?”

I tried to remember that one. I hadn’t noticed any mountains near the palace when I was younger. But then, Lord Jekia’s palace had been destroyed a few months after the incident with my sect, so he’d built another one elsewhere. I’d only been there a few times, so maybe I hadn’t explored far enough to see it.

“Yes, there is. Maybe I’ll take you there someday. I’m sure you’d like to visit Lord Jekia’s family again, and it seemed to me that Lady Lana and Selenia were eager for that,” Navine continued.

“I’d like that. It’s been a while, and I still haven’t met Aurora or Luna. I feel guilty that I couldn’t attend Rin and Aurora’s celebration. I was under the weather for a few days and couldn’t gather the strength to leave my bed,” I confessed.

Navine looked worried. “It sounds like you were quite sick. What was the matter?”

“Just a nasty cold. I felt better soon after,” I assured him.

“At least it wasn’t anything serious.” Navine sighed. He looked ahead. “Hold on tight, love. We’re almost there.”

I looked forward, taking in the sight of the mountain we were nearing. It towered over the surrounding ones, its trees a rich green. As we got closer, Navine began to descend, and I spotted an open area about halfway up.

The palace there reminded me of Navine’s, but it was more castle-like. The walls sparkled as if made of crystal, and the round turrets reached high into the sky. I could see large balconies all around it, too.

The courtyard spread out around the castle, enclosed by a tall stone wall. Navine landed near an onyx fountain, setting me down as the castle doors swung open and Lorelei emerged to welcome us. She looked much the same as the last time I’d seen her. Her long, sheer red dress shimmered with her movements, and her golden necklace, earrings, and bangles did the same.

“Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here!” she greeted.

“You know we wouldn’t let you down, and I must say it was kind of you to invite Raelina,” Navine responded.

“It was,” I agreed, giving Lorelei a polite curtsy. “Thank you for the invitation. Your home is beautiful, and I’m excited to see more of it.”

“I can’t wait for you to see it!” Lorelei’s face lit up with excitement. She turned to Navine, whose wings were flexing in preparation for flight. “You’re not sticking around? You know you’re always welcome.”

Navine shook his head. “No, I’ve got stuff to take care of. I’m leaving Raelina with you while I do. I trust you’ll keep her safe.”

“I’ll do my best, but won’t you reconsider? It’s been ages since we’ve had a proper visit!” Lorelei’s voice held a note of disappointment.

“When I have the time, I promise,” Navine reassured her. He cupped my face, planting a quick kiss on my lips. “I’ll be back in a few hours. Call me if you need me sooner.”

“Okay. See you soon, Navine,” I replied.

Navine smiled back at me. “Enjoy yourself, my dear.”

As Navine took off, Lorelei sighed, shaking her head and touching her cheek. “He always manages to dodge our social events. He needs to stop keeping us at arm’s length. It’s not like we’re out to get him,” she grumbled.

“I don’t think it’s that. He just doesn’t think about it much, and I didn’t exactly insist he stay. I’m sure he would have if I had,” I reasoned.

“Probably. He’s clearly smitten with you, which is a good thing,” Lorelei conceded. A knowing smile played on her lips. “I bet there’s a lot he wouldn’t deny you, even if he’d say no to anyone else.”

“I wouldn’t go that far. He’s good to me, but I don’t think I have that much sway over him,” I countered, trying to hide my uncertainty.

Lorelei giggled. “You’re such a sweetheart. That’s one of the things I love about you. Come on, let me give you the grand tour.”

The castle was as stunning on the inside as it was on the outside. The floors were pristine white marble, covered with long rugs in rich shades of scarlet and gold. A spiral staircase was situated not far from the main hall, and the castle boasted numerous spacious rooms, from sitting rooms to parlors and even two libraries.

“Your home is beautiful,” I complimented as we strolled down the upstairs hallway.

“Thank you. Vlad and I try to keep it that way, though it can be a bit of a challenge. He’s always coming up with new ideas for it, so it feels like a never-ending project,” Lorelei confessed.

“Vlad? Is he your husband?” I asked.

“He is,” Lorelei confirmed. She paused and turned to me. “He should be back soon. He was really looking forward to meeting you. He wanted to come with me when Navine invited us over, but he got tied up. He hasn’t stopped talking about it since, so I’m glad you could make it.”

“I feel like I’m making a bigger deal out of this than I should,” I confessed.

“I can’t blame you for feeling that way. It’s not unusual for an alpha to choose a bride, even if he doesn’t want a beta. But things are always a bit different with someone as powerful as Navine. Anything he does gets noticed and talked about,” Lorelei explained.

“I can see that. He did mention that he could’ve been the ruler of these lands along with Lord Jekia,” I agreed.

“He certainly could’ve,” Lorelei said, glancing at a nearby window. “Why don’t we head to the sunroom? It’s a more comfortable place to talk about all this.”

Her sudden change in tone was a bit strange. It was as if she had something to say but was worried about who might overhear, even though it seemed like we were alone. But she’d sparked my curiosity. It seemed like she might have something to share that wasn’t meant for public ears.

“That sounds good,” I agreed.

Lorelei and I made our way back down to the sunroom, a bright and airy space attached to the castle’s east wing. It reminded me of Navine’s conservatory, minus the lush greenery and trickling streams. Instead, it was more like a living room, bathed in natural light.

We settled at a small glass table near the far windows. A young servant girl brought us tea and petite cakes, chatting amiably as she arranged the refreshments on the table.

“Good afternoon. I noticed your guest had arrived, my lady, so I took the liberty of preparing this for you both,” she said.

“Thank you, Emily. That’s very thoughtful of you,” Lorelei replied.

“It’s my pleasure. You’ve done so much for me; this is the least I can do,” Emily responded, pouring the tea.

As she served us, I studied her. She seemed young, maybe a year or two younger than me, with long, vibrant green hair cascading down her back and shoulders. Two small ivory horns peeked out from her hair, and her oval eyes mirrored its color. Her olive skin was beautifully offset by the blue dress she wore.

“Have you been here long?” I asked her.

“Only about two years. I lost my father and had no other family. Lady Lorelei was kind enough to take me in, saving me from being married off to another Forest Nymph,” she answered. Suddenly, she gasped and set the teapot down. “Oh! I apologize! I’ve been so rude! I’m Emily.”

“There’s no need to apologize,” I reassured her. “Nice to meet you, Emily. I’m Raelina.”

Lorelei gave her a warm smile. “Don’t be so nervous, Emily. You’re family to me—there’s no need to feel inferior.”

“Yes, I know. I just get a bit nervous sometimes,” Emily admitted. She then turned to me. “I was really excited to hear you were coming. I hope I’m not being too forward, but you’re truly beautiful, Miss Raelina—just like all the Sun Fae I’ve heard about.”

I wasn’t surprised, and I took her words in stride. She meant no harm. She seemed genuinely sweet, and she knew what it was like to be an orphan.

“Thank you. That’s very kind of you. If you don’t mind me asking, is it common for Forest Nymphs to be forced into marriage when their fathers die?” I asked.

Emily nodded. “Yes, especially for those of us who lost our mothers when we were young. We either marry or become servants.”

“That’s usually the case, but Vlad and I intervened for Emily. We only have one daughter, and Emily has become like a big sister to her,” Lorelei added.

“I didn’t know you had a child,” I said, unable to hide my surprise.

“Yes. Her name is Havana, and she’s out with Vlad right now. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to meet you when they return,” Lorelei informed me.

Emily finished setting the table. “If you don’t mind, I need to finish cleaning the kitchen. But I hope to come back and chat more once I’m done.”

“Of course. We don’t mind at all,” Lorelei assured her.

“Okay. I’ll see you soon,” Emily said, bowing before leaving the room.

Once she was gone, I turned to Lorelei. “I’m surprised. I didn’t know Forest Nymphs could live away from their Sects.”

“They usually don’t, but there are exceptions like Emily. She’s adjusted well to living here. I think being in the misty mountain forest helps. She often says being among the trees feels like home,” Lorelei explained.

“That makes sense. I guess there’s a lot I don’t know about different creatures. I didn’t venture far from Forge after Anika adopted me. It always felt safer to stay close,” I admitted.

“It’s understandable, especially considering what happened with your sect,” Lorelei said. She took a sip of her tea, then continued, “But since it’s just us, maybe this is a good time to talk about some things.”

“What are you getting at?” I questioned, feeling a shift in the atmosphere that was more peculiar than alarming.

Lorelei caught my slight discomfort. “Don’t worry. I’m not criticizing you or your union with Navine,” she comforted me, placing her cup on the table. “Truth be told, I’ve been somewhat troubled by what transpired during our initial encounter with you. I anticipated some resistance regarding Dominick, but I didn’t expect it to be as frosty as it turned out.”

She was paving the way for the discussion I’d been hoping for. I decided to seize the opportunity.

“Lorelei, can you shed some light on why they can’t seem to get along? Navine avoids the topic, and I’ve heard whispers that Lord Dominick did something unforgivable to him a long time ago. Do you know what happened?” I asked.

Lorelei seemed reluctant to respond. “I do…but I’m not sure we should discuss it.”

“Why not?” I insisted.

“Why indeed are you hesitant to discuss these matters with her? Do you believe you’re protecting Navine in some way?” a male voice suddenly interjected.

Both of us swiveled our heads toward the entrance on the opposite side of the room. My eyes widened in surprise as I spotted Lord Dominick standing there. When did he arrive? Did Lorelei invite him without informing me?

My second question was promptly answered as Lorelei shot up from her seat. Her chair scraped harshly against the floor, and her hands clenched into fists.

“Why are you here?! Didn’t I instruct you to inform us of your visits?!” she demanded.

“You’re acting as if I’m not welcome here, which has never been the case. I always thought Vlad and I were on good terms,” Lord Dominick retorted.

“Being friends with my husband doesn’t grant you the liberty to barge in unannounced. I thought we had made this clear to you,” Lorelei countered as he approached the table.

“You did,” Lord Dominick agreed. He flashed me a smile as he neared the table, seemingly unfazed by Lorelei’s fury. “However, I was just dropping by to catch up with Vlad since I was nearby. But this is equally rewarding even in his absence. I was hoping to see this little Fae again, given my brief encounter with her previously.”

Lorelei glared at him. “You do realize that Raelina is here to spend time with me and my family. Navine will be livid when he finds out you’ve confronted her here.”

“What else is new?” Lord Dominick shrugged. He rested his hand on the table and studied me. “You truly are a beauty. It’s intriguing that neither of Jekia’s sons noticed you. But then again, they’ve always had a knack for attracting trouble, haven’t they? Even their choice of Betas is no exception.”

“I assume you’re aware of the situation with Luna,” I ventured.

“Luna?” Lord Dominick paused for a moment to recall the name. “Ah, yes—Rayne’s new beta. I did hear about her unusual lineage. It’s no surprise she’s drawn such backlash from the other females. But what Succubus wouldn’t? Such captivating, enticing beings will always outshine the rest.”

“You might be right about the latter, but isn’t it disrespectful to label her that way? She is part Fae, and her father’s identity shouldn’t define her,” I pointed out.

“I’m somewhat taken aback. I heard you had your sights set on Rayne for a while before she came along. You were also quite disappointed when he didn’t choose you,” Lord Dominick observed.

His comment caught me off guard. “How did you…?”

“Believe me, my dear, nothing slips past me,” Lord Dominick assured me, flashing a knowing smile.

Lorelei had had enough. She roughly grabbed his arm. “That’s enough,” she reprimanded him. “You’re as impolite as ever! What happened in the past is none of your concern, and you have no right to use it against her!” she scolded.

“I’ll say whatever I please!” Lord Dominick retorted. His face hardened as he yanked his arm free and glared at her. “It seems you’re forgetting your place, Lorelei. You may be an alpha among us Dragons, but you’re still a female. You’ll always be beneath the rest of us.”

I couldn’t just sit there and let him spew such disrespect, alpha or not. No one—not even an alpha—had the right to degrade women like that.

“I’m starting to understand why you and Navine are always at each other’s throats,” I said, rising to my feet. “You’re being incredibly disrespectful to her, and I don’t appreciate you using my past feelings as leverage. It’s almost as if you want me to admit that I settled for Navine.”

Lord Dominick swiveled to face me. His face was a blank canvas. I won’t lie, his towering height and muscular build were intimidating, and those steely eyes didn’t help. But I stood my ground, refusing to cower before him.

“One can’t help but wonder when they hear such things, right?” he retorted, crossing his arms and staring me down. “I must say, it’s quite brave of you to confront an alpha. Is this just your nature, or do you feel more empowered now that you share Navine’s bed?”

I had to fight the urge to slap him right then and there. I kept reminding myself that it would only escalate the situation. Besides, I felt like I was finally seeing him for who he truly was—an arrogant, self-centered alpha. I was sure of it now.

Lorelei, of course, took immediate offense to his words. She stepped between us and slapped him on my behalf. The sound echoed throughout the room, but Lord Dominick didn’t even flinch.

“How dare you speak to her like that! If you can’t behave, then leave! You have no place here!” she demanded.

“You’re quite protective, aren’t you? But then again, she reminds you of her, doesn’t she?” he taunted.

Lorelei froze at his words. “What?”

He leaned in, whispering in her ear. My ears perked up—I wasn’t sure if he was oblivious to the fact that fae like me have excellent hearing, or if he simply didn’t care.

“You all know it, even if you refuse to admit it,” he said. “And I know none of you have forgotten. Rosaline always promised she’d return to him if anything happened. Seems like she kept her promise, don’t you think?”

His words triggered a memory of the vision I’d seen in the mirror. Rosaline. Was that who I’d seen, who I thought I was?

I was snapped back to reality when Lorelei pushed him away.

“Enough! I’ve asked you to leave; now do it!” she ordered, her voice trembling slightly.

Lord Dominick seemed satisfied with the reaction he’d elicited. He stepped back.

“Very well. I’ll visit again when Vlad is here. My business is primarily with him,” he said, then turned to me. “It was nice seeing you again, Raelina. Perhaps you could visit me soon. I’d love to show you my unique brand of hospitality.”

A shiver ran down my spine as he walked away. I had a feeling I knew exactly what kind of “hospitality” he was referring to, and it stirred a strange blend of fear and regret within me.

Once he was gone, Lorelei turned to me, pulling me into a tight embrace.

“I’m so sorry. I had no idea he would show up here,” she apologized.

“It’s okay. I’m fine,” I reassured her, surprised but comforted by her gesture.

Lorelei pulled back, brushing my hair away from my face. Her eyes were filled with regret.

“Promise me you’ll never be alone with that man. He’s nothing but trouble—especially for you,” she warned.

“I don’t plan to be, but what was he talking about? Who is Rosaline and what does she have to do with me?” I asked.

She tensed slightly at my question. “Well,” she hesitated, “that’s not an easy question to answer, and I’m not sure if he’s just trying to stir up trouble.”

“He might be, but it’s okay. I’m not blaming anyone. I just want to know the truth. I found items in an old bedroom at home with the letter R on them and a sun and moon crest. Were they hers?” I pressed.

“So, you’ve seen them.”

Lorelei’s gaze shifted away from mine, her mind wrestling with how to respond. Finally, she sighed. “I guess there’s no point in trying to hide it from you. You deserve to know. I just hope Navine doesn’t get so mad at me for spilling the beans that he cuts me off from you.”

“I’ll make sure he doesn’t. Please, just tell me the truth. Who was she? Was she part of his family?”

“No,” Lorelei confessed. “Rosaline was more than just family. Before her death, she was supposed to be his beta.”

A whirlwind of emotions swept through me as she dropped that bombshell. The most overwhelming of them all was disbelief. This couldn’t be true. It just couldn’t.

“Navine had a beta? But he told me he’s never had one, never even wanted one!” I blurted out.

Lorelei gently guided me to sit down, then pulled her chair closer so she could face me, her hands enveloping mine.

“Please, don’t be upset. I know this is a shock, and Navine should have been the one to tell you. But I think there’s a reason he didn’t, and why he asked us to keep quiet. He suffered a terrible heartbreak back then, and I think he’s been trying to forget it ever since,” she explained.

“Is that why he can’t stand Lord Dominick? Because he had something to do with Rosaline’s death?” I needed to know.

“We think so, but we don’t know all the details,” Lorelei admitted. She let out a weary sigh, squeezing my hands. “Are you okay to keep talking about this?”

“I’m fine,” I assured her. “And I won’t say anything to Navine if you don’t want me to. I just need to know the truth about why Navine hates Lord Dominick and why everyone keeps warning me to stay away from him.”

“You have every right to know,” Lorelei agreed. “Even if I can’t give you a clear answer, I can share what I know. Where would you like me to start?”

“Can you tell me more about how this all ties into the feud between Navine and Lord Dominick?”

“I can share what I remember. Some of it’s a bit hazy; it was so long ago. I think it all started around the time the land rulers were being chosen.”

“It started that far back?!”

“Yes, it did,” Lorelei confirmed.

“That’s a long time for two alphas to be at odds, even if something tragic sparked it,” I remarked.

“Believe me, sweetheart, not all alphas get along, and some never do. I think Dominick and Navine were always at loggerheads, even before all this. They’re both strong, physically and mentally, but Navine has always been more noble, while Dominick tends to manipulate others. Still, they managed to keep things civil most of the time—until Rosaline entered the picture,” Lorelei elaborated.

I could see where this was heading. “So, they both fell for her and started competing for her affection?” I guessed.

This was typical alpha behavior. They could choose any female they wanted, but that didn’t mean another alpha couldn’t step in and vie for her attention. The interesting part was that in such situations, the female usually had the final say. It was one of the few instances where a female in our world held more power than an alpha male.

“That’s right,” Lorelei confirmed. “But first, let me tell you a bit more about Rosaline. As you might have guessed, she wasn’t a Dragon. She wasn’t even close to being an alpha. The only things that made her stand out were her beauty and her lineage. She was unique. She was one of the last Celestial Faeries.”

“Celestial Faeries?” I echoed. I’d never heard of them before.

“I’m not surprised you haven’t. The Celestial Fae were nearly extinct by then. Rosaline was one of the last four,” Lorelei informed me.

The parallels between this Fae and myself were uncanny, almost spooky. Yet, there was a part of me that felt a strange sense of validation, even though I couldn’t quite put my finger on why.

“I see a lot of myself in her, even in the way she looked,” I mused aloud.

Lorelei looked puzzled. “Is there a portrait of her somewhere? I wasn’t aware one existed.”

“No,” I replied, shaking my head. I hadn’t intended to voice that thought, but I figured honesty was the best policy. “I don’t know why, but I once saw a different face in the mirror. She looked a bit like me, but with white hair and ice-blue eyes. It was bizarre, but not frightening. I know this sounds crazy, but it felt like I was looking at a past version of myself.”

Lorelei was motionless as she absorbed my words, her eyes growing wide with disbelief. I thought I saw tears welling up, but she quickly blinked them away. She shook her head to hide them and squeezed my hands as she met my gaze.

“Raelina, you need to tread carefully. Whether or not you’re a reincarnation of her, your current situation could put you in danger. Dominick has made that clear,” she warned.

“What happened to her? Did he harm her because she chose Navine?” I asked.

“I can’t say for sure. Only Navine and Dominick know the truth. But I don’t believe in coincidences. Navine hasn’t shown interest in another woman since Rosaline’s departure. We all sensed something was up when he suddenly announced his engagement. Now, I think it’s because you’re her reincarnation. You’ve reunited, and he’s determined to keep you safe this time.”

As far-fetched as it sounded, it was the most plausible explanation. It was strange that Navine would propose to me within twenty minutes of our meeting, especially since he’d never shown interest in women before. But then again, most people seemed to know little about Rosaline. Was it because her time was long past, or because Navine had made everyone forget by never mentioning her?

Despite the shock and potential anger, I felt a profound sadness. Perhaps it was because I understood the pain of loss, or maybe it was a deep-seated longing in my soul. Regardless, I was determined to stay strong, even if Navine’s return made things difficult.

“I know he will protect me, whether I’m her reincarnation or not. I just hope Navine genuinely cares for me as I am. I’d hate to think he sees me as a substitute for her,” I confessed.

“Oh, Raelina, I can’t imagine Navine ever seeing you as a replacement,” Lorelei reassured me.

“You really think so?” I asked.

“Absolutely. I’ve known Navine since we were children, and he’s not one to see things that way. You’re a kind and beautiful Fae, Raelina. I’m sure that’s why he chose you.”

I wanted to believe her, but doubt lingered. Maybe I shouldn’t have probed so much, even if I initially did it to help friends. I was only fostering unnecessary doubts.

The creaking of the door snapped me back to reality. I turned with Lorelei to see Emily entering. She looked apprehensive, standing near the door with her hands behind her back and her eyes on the floor.

“May I join you?” she asked.

“Of course. We were just discussing a few things,” Lorelei replied. “You seem a bit tense, dear. Did Dominick upset you before he left?”

“No, ma’am,” Emily responded, shaking her head as she approached us. “He didn’t say anything, but his presence always makes me uneasy, especially after that incident.”

“What happened?” I asked.

“I’d rather not talk about it,” Emily replied, her voice barely above a whisper. I could hear a slight tremor in it.

“Don’t worry about it. We can chat about it later,” Lorelei reassured me. She motioned toward a chair nearby. “Why don’t you join us while we wait for Vlad and Havana to get back? I bet you could use the company.”

Emily nodded, dragging the chair over to join us. “I could use some company, and I feel bad about how he showed up. I hope I’m not overstepping, but it seemed too convenient, like he wanted to see Miss Raelina without any guys around,” she added.

“I wouldn’t put it past him, and I know he thinks I’m no threat just because he’s a bit more powerful. I keep telling him his disrespect for women will be his downfall,” Lorelei declared.

“Underestimating anyone—especially women—is never a good idea. Lord Jekia used to say that when we were kids. I used to hang out at his palace a lot with his sons and later his daughter, so I got to hear a lot of his wisdom,” I shared.

Emily seemed interested. “You were lucky. I’ve only met Lord Jekia a few times and his kids twice. They seemed strong and proud, but also really friendly. Are they always like that?” she asked me.

“Usually, yes,” I replied. “I’m the same age as Rin and Rayne, so we’ve always gotten along well, especially since we met when we were so young. I feel bad that I haven’t met their Betas yet. I’m hoping to do that soon.”

“You haven’t met either of them? That’s surprising. I’ve met both,” Emily confessed.

That caught me off guard. “You have?”

“Yes. I’ve met Lady Aurora a few times when I’ve been to Jumal, and I saw Lady Luna a few weeks ago when I was visiting some friends. I guess I didn’t actually meet her per se, now that I think about it. They’re both really beautiful, aren’t they, Lady Lorelei?” Emily asked.

“They are,” Lorelei agreed.

“I do feel a bit sorry for Lady Luna, though. She’s had a rough time with all those awful rumors about her seducing Lord Rayne, and now they think it might be tied to her father. I don’t get why Lord Rayne didn’t do more about it. How could he not know what was happening to her for so long?” Emily pondered.

“I’m not sure either,” I confessed. “It’s been weird hearing about all of it, and I was hoping to ask Lord Dominick if he knew more. I’ve heard he knows a lot about the Matchmaking Houses, and even Rin said he wanted to ask him about what he might know.”

“Lord Rin wants to talk to Lord Dominick?” Emily asked, clearly taken aback.

“Well, he said that Lord Jekia was thinking about it,” I clarified.

“And I’m with Navine on this one. It’s better to keep Dominick out of it. I hope you see it that way too, Raelina. It’s great to want to help others, especially your friends, but you shouldn’t put yourself in danger to do it,” Lorelei advised.

“Absolutely not, and I can tell you from experience that being around Lord Dominick can be risky, especially if you’re a woman. He likes to use us however he wants,” Emily confessed.

I was about to respond when we heard the door open. Tiny footsteps echoed across the room as a little girl ran toward us.

“Mama!” she squealed, leaping into Lorelei’s lap for a hug.

Lorelei hugged her back, her smile just as bright. “Hello, my little one! You’re finally home!”

Even without the introduction, I could tell this was Lorelei’s daughter, Havana. She was small and looked about five or six, but she was the spitting image of her mother. They had the same eyes and fiery red hair, though Havana’s was thicker and half pulled back. She also had wings like her mother’s and wore a cute orange dress with a full skirt.

“Daddy said we had to come home because you had guests!” Havana announced, seemingly not noticing me yet.

“Yes. My guest is right here, sweetheart,” Lorelei told her.

Havana spun around, her eyes growing wide at the sight of me. She quickly hopped down and positioned herself in front of me, bending over my lap to gaze up at me.

“You’re so pretty! Are you a Faerie?!” she asked, her voice bubbling with excitement.

“Yes, she is. This is Raelina. Remember I mentioned she’s Navine’s wife?” Lorelei jogged her memory.

“Oh…” Havana’s face lit up with recognition. “You’re Miss Raelina. You’re so beautiful. I’ve never seen a Faerie like you before.”

“I like to think I’m one of a kind,” I replied, avoiding the painful truth that I was the last Sun Fae. She was too young to grasp that reality, and she didn’t need to.

Lorelei’s gaze shifted back to the door. “Where’s your dad? I thought he’d be here by now.”

“He said he’s on his way. He found a letter with his name on it when we walked in, so he wanted to read it first,” Havana explained.

Lorelei rose from her seat, her face clouded with concern. It wasn’t hard to guess that the letter was likely from Lord Dominick, and she was probably worried about its contents.

“Excuse me for a moment. I’m going to check on Vlad and let him know you’re here,” she said, excusing herself.

As she left the room, a wave of unease washed over me, but I kept my worries to myself. I didn’t want to stir up trouble, especially not in front of this little Dragon.

But I also believe that kids are often smarter than we give them credit for. Havana was no exception.

“I think Mama’s upset. Daddy looked upset too when he read that letter,” she observed.

“Did you see who it was from?” Emily inquired.

“No,” Havana replied, still leaning against me. “It was on the table when we walked in. Daddy looked angry when he read it. Then he told me to go find Mama and that he’d join us soon.”

I couldn’t help but wonder about the contents of that letter. It must have upset Vlad. Could it have been about me or Navine?

My thoughts were interrupted by Havana tugging at my skirt.

“Can I see your necklace? I’ve never seen one with a sun before,” she asked.

“Of course,” I replied, smiling as I helped her climb onto my lap.

Emily scooted closer to get a better look. “That’s a beautiful pendant. I’ve never seen a sun one before either. Did you have it made?” she asked.

“Yes. Navine made it for me. He also made this bracelet,” I answered, showing them my wrist.

“Wow!” Havana exclaimed, grinning at me. “Daddy sometimes has pretty jewelry made for Mama too, and she always wears them. He says it’s because he loves her so much. Sometimes he gets some made for me because he loves me too!”

“Gifts like that are a lovely way to show love, and they mean even more when they’re given with love,” I agreed.

“So Navine must love you a lot,” Havana concluded.

“I would like to think so,” I chuckled, smoothing her hair over her shoulders as she turned to face me. “Do you know Navine well, Havana?”

“Oh! You know my name?” she responded.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, your mom did mention it before you came back. She also told me how beautiful you are, and I can see she was right.”

Havana beamed. “Thank you. That’s so nice of you.” She then started talking about Navine. “I know Navine too. He’s Mama’s friend, but we don’t see him much. He’s always been nice, but I think he was lonely. But now you’re here, so he doesn’t have to be lonely anymore.”

“I hope not. I know I’m not lonely anymore since I met him. He’s the reason I’ve gotten to meet new friends like you,” I told her.

“We can really be friends?! That’s great! Then you can come over to play with me!” Havana exclaimed.

“Now, now,” Emily interjected, “while that’s a lovely idea, you must remember that Miss Raelina lives quite far from here, and she has her own responsibilities. She might only be able to play occasionally.”

“That’s true, but I’ll try my best for you, okay?” I promised.

“Okay!” Havana agreed enthusiastically. “Maybe you and Navine can have a baby soon so I can play with them!”

Hearing that made my heart sink a little, but not because Navine had made it impossible for us to have kids. It was like there was this deep-seated sense of loss inside me, even though I couldn’t quite put my finger on why.

“That’s a bit forward, Havana. Whether Lord Navine and Lady Raelina decide to have kids or not is their business,” Emily gently corrected her.

“I know, but they could!” Havana argued back.

Emily handled her sass with grace. “Yes, they could. But it’s not our place to get ahead of ourselves.”

“I agree, it’s not a good habit to fall into,” I chimed in. I gently nudged Havana off my lap and got up. “I hope you two don’t mind, but I need to check on Lorelei.”

“I understand,” Emily said, standing up and taking Havana’s hand. “Do you remember where your dad was when he sent you in here?”

Havana nodded. “Yes. He was in the main hall.”

“All right. I’ll go find him then. Excuse me.”

They didn’t object, letting me leave the room alone. As I left, I heard Emily suggesting a game to Havana, probably to distract her. It was for the best. I had a lot on my mind, and I needed to find out if there was trouble brewing. I just hoped that Lorelei and her husband would be straight with me when I found them.