Chapter 40

“Hey, don’t sweat it about the sudden call. It’s been a while, and we didn’t think we’d get another chance soon,” Rin said, his voice apologetic.

We strolled into the courtyard, Rayne at our side.

“No biggie. I wanted to hang out with you guys, and I knew Navine wouldn’t mind,” I reassured him.

Rayne snorted. “After everything he’s put you through, he better not.”

I wasn’t surprised by his comment, even though I’d expected Rin to be the first to bring it up. But then again, Rayne had a knack for beating Rin to the punch.

I halted, turning to face him. I knew it was better to address this now rather than later.

“I get it, but I’ve decided to move on. Like I said at our meeting, dwelling on the past doesn’t do us any good, especially now that the main problem is gone,” I reminded him.

Rayne seemed to soften a bit. “Yeah, you’re right. All this mess started with that other Dragon, didn’t it?” he conceded.

“Seems like it,” Rin chimed in.

He glanced toward the palace before continuing, “We were really worried about you, so knowing you’re okay is a huge relief. You know we’re not the type to believe everything we hear.”

I couldn’t help but chide him. “That’s not the best habit to have. You know Lord Jekia wouldn’t keep things from you now. He only did it before to protect you.”

Rin nodded. “We’re starting to understand that more now. Even Selenia is, though she still gets upset about being left out sometimes.”

I glanced around. “Where are Selenia and your mom? I thought I’d see them too.”

Rayne filled me in. “Dad asked them to take Luna and Aurora to Bergan. They’re visiting the Matchmaking House there. Luna’s good friends with one of the new matrons and wanted to see how they’re doing after all the recent chaos.”

I could read between the lines. Even though I knew about Luna’s issues with her dad and how they were tied to this House, I suspected there was another reason for their visit today.

“Did your dad not want Luna and Aurora involved in this conversation?” I asked.

Rayne nodded. “He thought it would be better if it was just us. It was kind of convenient that they got that invitation the other day.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “That’s Lord Jekia for you. He has a knack for turning things to his advantage. But I’m glad you guys are here. It’s been too long, and it’s comforting after everything that’s happened.”

Rin looked at me, concern in his eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay? You seem fine physically, but you’ve been a bit on edge since we got here.”

I hadn’t even noticed how tense I’d become or how often I’d been glancing around until he pointed it out.

“I guess I have been,” I admitted.

Rayne chimed in. “That Dragon really got to you, huh? You keep looking around like you did when we were kids.”

I sighed. “I think it’s more the circumstances this time. Dominick managed to get me out of the palace by making me sleepwalk and using the Golems and Trolls on the mountain. It’s made me super cautious about sleeping or straying too far from Navine’s palace,” I confessed.

Rayne studied my face, holding my chin gently. “That’s why you look so worn out. Have you let Navine help you? Or maybe Anika could give you something to help you sleep better.”

I shook my head. “She’s offered a few times, but I don’t think I need it. I can handle things on my own. I just need a little more time to let it all go.”

Rayne sighed. “As stubborn as ever.”

Rin changed the subject. “Speaking of Anika, I heard from Felicity that she’s going to be staying at the palace with you and Navine.”

I nodded. “She is. She went back to Forge yesterday to sort out things with her home and shop, and she should be back with us in a few days.”

Rayne grinned. “Looks like Navine’s not getting rid of her that easily. Maybe we should drop by more often.”

I giggled. “I think Navine might have his hands full after all this. Lorelei and Niles said the same thing, though I think Niles always came and went as he pleased anyway.”

“Isn’t it fascinating?” Rin mused as we huddled under a tree. “I didn’t see it coming, him bringing that Elf along. She was one of the females that Prism Dragon had, right?”

“Yep, she was. There were three of them, all different. Two were Faeries and Umira is an Elf. I’m relieved they’re all safe now. I was worried,” I confessed.

“You’ve always been more concerned about others than yourself, Raelina. Maybe it’s time you started thinking about yourself. You’re in a position to do that now,” Rayne pointed out.

“I don’t think I can. It’s just who I am,” I replied.

“Maybe it’s not such a bad thing, Rayne,” Rin proposed. “Raelina’s influence seems to be making Navine a better person. We’ve managed to keep the most powerful alpha in these lands balanced. Hopefully, with his and others’ help, things will be more stable now.”

“We’ve tackled some big problems in the past, so I suppose that’s possible,” Rayne conceded.

“Back to our earlier conversation—when will you guys introduce me to Aurora and Luna? I feel like I’m being left out,” I grumbled.

Rin chuckled. “We have been doing that, haven’t we? You didn’t even get to attend Aurora’s celebration here.”

“I wanted to, but I was so sick I think I slept for three days straight. I was so bummed when I couldn’t make it!” I sulked.

“We could always throw another party, or maybe Navine would let us have one there. I’d like to meet this Snake we’ve heard about. I never thought I’d hear of one of them caring about someone else,” Rayne suggested.

“I don’t think Nanash is like most Snakes, but I think that’s a good thing. He’s been a great friend from the start, and it’s nice to know I can count on him,” I shared.

“We all know not to judge a book by its cover, Rayne. We’ve spent our lives around Spiders who’ve cared for us,” Rin reminded.

“True, and both Ms. Edifel and Ms. Vishu have always been wonderful. I miss Ms. Edifel,” I agreed, gazing at the webs that crisscrossed the tree branches.

“We miss her too, but Vishu is a lot like her,” Rayne added.

“I take that as a compliment.” Vishu descended from her webs, landing softly in the grass near us. She was as beautiful as ever, with her long, shiny white hair and big blue eyes. Her upper body was clad in a pretty blue top, and her skirt draped over her Spider abdomen and legs.

She gave me a sweet smile as she settled next to me, pulling me into a gentle side hug. “I’ve missed you too, Raelina. You’ve grown into such a beautiful woman, and it’s wonderful to see you’ve found some happiness. I know Mother would’ve felt the same way.”

I believed that too. Edifel had been such a wonderful Spider from what I remembered, and I hadn’t known her long before she was killed in the siege on Lord Jekia’s previous palace. She’d taken care of me after Lord Jekia saved me, alternating with Lady Lana to treat my wounds and look after me.

She was always so kind and loving. It still hurt to know she was gone.

My thoughts were interrupted when Umira approached us. “May I join you?” she asked, bowing her head politely.

“You don’t need to be so formal. We’re not as high-ranking as our father, so speak freely,” Rin told her.

“That’s very kind of you,” Umira said as she sat near me and Vishu. “I admit, I’m still adjusting to such kindness. Lord Dominick used to show it, but it’s been so long I feel like I’ve almost forgotten it.”

“It’s a shame to hear that. You’re a beautiful Elf, and your manners show you’ve been raised well. There’s no reason you shouldn’t be treated properly,” Vishu stated.

“None of us deserved the path our lives took these past few years,” Umira confessed. “I think Sky got the worst of it. I hope she finds happiness in the Eastern Lands, just like Ginger has found at home.”

Rin and Rayne were watching her intently as she spoke. From the get-go, I could tell they were intrigued by her, probably as much as they were about Dominick and his story. Dominick had likely kept a lot of things hidden, even from Lord Jekia and Emelio.

“I’m sure they will,” I reassured her. “And I bet Lyric will make sure Sky is okay. Navine told me she’s working for a Faerie who helped raise Lyric, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“So she’s working for Grizelda?” Rin mused. “Interesting. She always struck me as the type to take people in when they needed help.”

“You’ve met her?” Umira asked, surprised.

“We both have, in recent years,” Rayne replied. “Our father wanted us to travel to other lands periodically to build relationships with their rulers. Plus, it’s a good learning experience for us.”

“You met Luna in the Western Lands, didn’t you?” I chimed in. “Was that your first time there?”

Rayne nodded. “Yes, I was there on some business for Father. Meeting Luna was pure chance, but Merrick didn’t mind me bringing her back as my beta.”

“Good thing, too,” Rin teased. “You probably wouldn’t have come back without her.”

“I could make a comment about you sneaking off with Aurora and not telling us, but that wouldn’t be polite in front of Raelina and her friend,” Rayne shot back.

“Huh? What do you mean?” Umira asked, her head tilted in confusion.

“It’s a long story,” I quickly interjected, eager to change the subject. There was no point in letting them get into a drawn-out debate about who handled their beta situation better. I knew both stories, and frankly, neither Rin nor Rayne had initially treated their Betas well. But what’s done is done.

“Anyway, I hope to visit the Eastern Lands soon. Maybe I’ll see her.”

“Oh, yes. Lord Navine and Lord Lyric are related, aren’t they?” Umira remembered. “I recall Lord Dominick mentioning it.”

“Yes, they are,” I confirmed. “Navine told me he wants to visit Lyric more often. He’s always been upset about his brother leaving and then dying. He wants to keep that family connection with Lyric. I think it’s a good idea. It’s important to stay in touch with the family you have left.”

My words hung heavy in the air. I could tell Rin was struggling with what to say next. “I don’t mean to pry, Raelina, but are you sure you’ve truly forgiven Navine for what happened to your family?” he asked. “We can’t ignore the fact that he knew about the planned attack before our father did.”

I knew this question would come up often and for a long time, so I decided to be honest.

“I understand why you’re asking,” I said. “And I’ll admit, it wasn’t easy for me to accept. I was furious when I found out, and I considered leaving Navine because I didn’t know if I could forgive him.”

“What made you change your mind?” Umira asked.

It wasn’t easy to explain, but I tried my best. “I gave myself time to calm down and think things through,” I said. “I went through a whirlwind of emotions and considered a lot of things. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that Navine had little to do with what happened. Yes, he received letters warning him, but there was never any evidence to back up those claims, nor did he know who sent them. And even if he had been there, who’s to say the lycans wouldn’t have distracted him somehow? They often did that to Lord Jekia, and with Dominick on their side, it would’ve been easy for them.”

“Father often found himself chasing after them, trying to prevent their attacks,” Rayne confessed. “I remember countless days when he’d be gone, trying to track them down.”

“Mother was always worried about it too,” Rin chimed in.

“I know, and that’s why I decided we needed to talk things out before I made my decision. It wasn’t easy, and I was angry at him, but I also realized how much I loved him,” I confessed. “Even though it hurt, I could forgive him, not just for his sake, but for mine too.”

“Isn’t that part of loving someone?” Vishu asked. “Everyone makes mistakes, and I can’t imagine Lord Navine being too proud to regret his.”

“You’re right, he isn’t,” I agreed. “But I did tell him that I wanted something in return for my forgiveness. I wanted him to be the Dragon King I know he’s capable of being, and to never ignore a call for help again, no matter how strange it might seem. I told him I would leave if he didn’t do those things.”

“He’d be a fool to doubt you. I think we all know you’d follow through,” Rin said with a chuckle.

“I wouldn’t have a choice. I could never trust him again. But I don’t think it will come to that. Things are falling into place, and we’ll be okay,” I assured them.

I’m not entirely convinced of my own words yet, I thought. Only time will tell if Navine keeps his promise.

Suddenly, Vishu glanced toward the gate.

“They’re back earlier than expected,” she noted, standing up. She reached for a strand of web on a nearby tree to open the courtyard entrance.

A wave of anxiety washed over me as Lady Lana entered with Selenia and two other women I didn’t recognize. I had been eager to meet Luna and Aurora, but now that the moment was here, I wasn’t sure I was ready.

Maybe it was because of everything that had happened with Dominick. I wasn’t feeling my best mentally, but I didn’t have a choice now.

Selenia approached us, a bright smile on her face. She seemed more mature than the last time I saw her, which was almost a year ago.

She was a beautiful Luna dog, bearing many of her mother’s features, including the same white ears and tail. Her hair was a mix of white and dark streaks that highlighted her curls, and her golden eyes were as vibrant as ever.

“Raelina! I was hoping we’d see you when we got back!” she exclaimed.

“Let me guess. That’s why you all returned earlier than expected,” Rin teased.

“We thought things would be mostly settled by now, and there’s no harm done,” Lady Lana said, standing next to Vishu. She gave me a relieved smile.

“I’m glad to see you here, Raelina. I’ve been worried since I heard about what happened.”

“I know, and I promise I’m okay now,” I reassured her.

The other girls sat next to Rin and Rayne, and I studied them. It was easy to tell them apart. Aurora looked more human, like Lady Lana.

It was strange how similar we looked. Her golden-blonde hair fell to her waist, and her sky-blue eyes were as vibrant as mine. I wondered if I would’ve looked like her if I were human.

Luna, on the other hand, looked more like a Fae, like me. But she had short ivory horns protruding from her long white hair.

Her pale blue eyes were framed by dark lashes, and she had one of the most beautiful faces I’d ever seen.

I thought I should’ve felt jealous looking at her, but I didn’t. Was it because I was happy with Navine?

“Now that you’re both here, let’s introduce you. This is our childhood friend Raelina, the last Sun Faerie,” Rin said, gesturing first to Aurora, then to Luna.

“This is my beta, Aurora, and Rayne’s beta, Luna.”

“Finally getting to meet you is a pleasure,” I said, flashing my most charming smile. This was the encounter I’d been anticipating, so I needed to just chill and enjoy it.

“Wait, you’re Raelina? You’re even more stunning than Rin described,” Aurora remarked.

“Thank you, that’s kind of you,” I replied, considering pointing out our similarities but deciding against it for the moment. “I’m glad to finally meet you both as well. I regret it’s taken me this long.”

“No worries. We understand things have been a bit chaotic for you, just like for us. Are you doing okay now?” Luna asked, concern in her eyes.

“I’m doing better in many ways, though I won’t lie, it’s been a bit of a struggle to process everything,” I admitted.

“So, how did the meeting go? Did everything get sorted out?” Lady Lana asked, curiosity piquing.

“It went surprisingly well, even better than Father anticipated. Navine is keeping his position and the Silver Dragon Mordecai is stepping into Dominick’s role. Raelina played a big part in sorting things out,” Rayne filled her in.

“I see,” Lady Lana said, glancing toward the palace doors. “Why don’t you two show me where your father and the Dragons are? I’d like to see them while they’re still here.”

I had a hunch this was a scheme to give us girls some privacy, and that suspicion grew when Selenia chose to accompany them and Vishu also excused herself.

Luna and Aurora moved a bit closer to Umira and me.

“We didn’t mean to be rude earlier, Miss Elf. We didn’t mean to ignore you,” Luna apologized.

“It’s fine. I know Raelina is close with your family, so I didn’t mind waiting my turn. I’m Umira, by the way,” she introduced herself.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Umira. If you don’t mind me asking, are you also married to one of the Dragons?” Aurora asked her.

“Well, the Onyx Dragon recently proposed that to me, and I’m considering it, but I haven’t fully accepted yet,” Umira confessed.

I decided to fill them in. They were bound to find out sooner or later.

“Umira was originally one of Dominick’s concubines, but after his death, Niles made his offer to her. So, the decision is hers to make.”

“I see,” Luna said, seemingly connecting the dots. “Are you doing okay now? You look well, but you’ve been through a lot.”

Umira nodded. “I’m much better now, thank you for your concern. It’s very kind of you.”

Aurora was studying me as they spoke.

“Is everything okay?” I asked her.

“Oh,” she caught herself and chuckled a bit. “I’m sorry. It’s just a bit surreal meeting you like this. I didn’t expect our resemblance to be so striking.”

“You really do look alike. It’s quite remarkable,” Luna chimed in.

“I guess life is full of strange coincidences,” I mused.

“Or maybe Lord Rin had a crush on you before,” Umira suggested.

That was a tough one to deny. I remembered Rin complimenting me often when we were kids. But I was sure it was just a fleeting crush. He wouldn’t have let it linger otherwise.

“He might have had a crush on me when we were kids, but we’ve always been just good friends, like I am with Rayne and Selenia. We grew up together, and they see me as another sibling, which is how I see them too,” I clarified.

“That’s really sweet. Rayne always sounds so happy when he talks about his childhood with you and his siblings,” Luna shared.

“Rin does too. It seems like they have a lot of happy memories from their childhood, especially with you,” Aurora agreed.

“Rin said that?” I asked, surprised.

“Yes, he did,” Aurora confirmed. “He’s told me countless times how he felt like an outsider everywhere except when he was with his siblings and you. That’s why I’ve been so eager to meet you. I hope I can get to know you like he has.”

“I’d like that too. I hope this doesn’t sound wrong, but I think being unique gives us a lot in common,” Luna added.

“I don’t see anything wrong with admitting it. We’re both in the same boat, and I’m thrilled to finally meet you both. It’s been a long time coming,” I shared with them.

I shifted my gaze to Umira. “I hope you’ll welcome Umira as well. I’m sure she’d love to make some new friends.”

“Absolutely! We’re excited to get to know you better too!” Aurora’s voice rang out cheerfully.

Umira’s face transformed in a way I’d never seen before, her eyes sparkling as if they were on the verge of spilling over with joy.

“I’m so grateful! I’d love to be friends too!” she exclaimed.