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Chapter Seventy-Nine

Annora

A gentle breeze filters through tall windows, ruffling the hem of my gown as I sit alone in a parlor in Sharhavva.

For days, I have thought about Aleksander and Asha—how they allowed bitterness to forge their paths, unaware that with every step, they sprouted weeds. With each act of vengeance, the weeds grew and spread venomous seeds through their hearts.

I wish I could have stopped it, could have helped them see the light instead of the dark, but the shadows called to them, and they followed.

Rebuilding will not be simple, but I believe with everything in me, that divisions can be bridged, and wounds can heal.

The door swings open, and I glance up as Jasce steps into the room with Tahira and Emerin.

Joy swells inside me as I stand and they rush forward, and the three of us embrace.

“I’ve missed you so much,” Tahira says, her voice muffled against my shoulder.

Emerin nods. “Me too. It feels like it’s been forever since we last saw you.”

Tears blur my vision as I hold my sisters close, breathing in their familiar scents—Tahira’s hint of lavender and Emerin’s marjoram.

“I can’t believe you’re both here.” After everything that happened with Asha, I worried that I would lose them too.

Tahira pulls back and smiles. “Where else would we be? We all belong together.”

“Come, sit with me.” I lead them to the plush chairs near the window.

This is what I’ve dreamed of—my sisters here, in our home, building paths between our peoples.

“Will you show us your favorite places?” Tahira asks, practically bouncing in her seat. “Em and I want to see everything.”

“Of course. We can start with the gardens. They’re nothing like Bakva’s, but they have their own special charm.”

For the first time since leaving Bakva, hope blooms fully in my chest. Not just for peace between our houses, but for healing within my own family.

The door creaks open, and Reeve steps into the room and speaks to Jasce. “A messenger arrived from the northern settlements.”

Emerin stiffens and fixes her attention on the window rather than the doorway, where the brothers stand.

Tahira squeezes my hand, drawing my focus back to her. “Could we visit the markets tomorrow?”

“Of course.”

As Tahira talks about the different spices and textiles she hopes to find in the market, I watch Emerin from the corner of my eye. Her fingers twist in her hair, weaving and unweaving small braids. Each time Reeve’s deep voice carries across the room, her jaw tightens.

“And I heard they have the most beautiful silks,” Tahira says.

“The merchants bring fabrics from all over,” I say, but my attention stays on Emerin as she shifts in her chair, angling herself away from the door.

“Em?” Tentatively, Tahira touches her arm. “Don’t you want to see the silks too?”

Emerin’s shoulders tense as Reeve’s laugh echoes through the room. “I suppose.”

“Em?” I keep my voice soft as I continue. “Would you like to see the library instead? The scrolls there date back centuries.”

Her mismatched eyes brighten at the mention of books. “Really?”

“Yes. Some are written in languages I’ve never even seen before.”

Tahira groans dramatically. “Not more dusty scrolls. I was promised silk shopping.”

“We can do both,” I say, reaching over to smooth Tahira’s wild curls. “There’s time for everything now.”

For so long, every moment felt borrowed, stolen between battles and betrayals. But now we have the luxury of peaceful days stretching ahead of us.

Jasce catches my eye from across the room and smiles—that warm, private smile that still makes my heart flutter. He understands what it means to have my sisters here.