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He squeezes my fingers. “I think it will be less stressful for you to meet them without the masses looking on.”

“This was your idea?” His attentiveness makes more warmth spread through my chest. “How considerate of you.” I do my best to smile with confidence, but I can’t hide my nervousness from him. “Thank you.”

“It’s my job to take care of you, and that means keeping you healthy and alive in every way that matters.”

I aim for humor. The situation is already serious enough as it is. “What’s my job?”

“To rule as my queen.”

The statement knocks my world off kilter. I expected him to say something with a sexual nuance, such as that my place is in his bed, but no. He’s perfectly serious.

Before I can think of a suitable reply, we’re in front of his mother’s quarters.

“Ready?” he asks, rubbing a thumb over my knuckles.

Unable to speak, I nod.

He dissolves the wall, revealing a small group gathered in the reception room. The king and queen are present, but it’s the man and woman standing with their backs to me who draw my gaze.

The wall seals behind us, enclosing us in the privacy of the queen’s quarters. At the silent announcement of our arrival, the strangers turn around. We face each other quietly, the moment too charged for words.

A curtain of straight hair cascades over the woman’s shoulders to her waist. We share the same color hair and eyes.

Her face is oval, like mine, and her skin is just as pale, but she’s much taller, literally a giant towering over me.

Her sky-blue dress hugs her curves, accentuating her perfect body and tall, slender legs.

The fabric of her dress glitters, tiny sparks firing off in the light that pulses in the walls.

Her shoes are the same color as her dress, the toes pointy and the heels wedged.

We hold one another’s eyes for a few heavy heartbeats before I shift my gaze to the man.

A broad forehead, high cheekbones, and square jaw give his face a hard, angular look.

His blond hair is cropped close to his skull, matching a short-trimmed beard.

He’s wearing a tunic of a slightly darker hue than the woman’s dress with a midnight-blue sash over white pants and tan boots.

What’s most striking about him are the vivid blue of his eyes, not another speck of color visible in the solid circles of his irises, and the blue and green lines painted horizontally over his cheeks.

The woman steps forward, exclaiming in a voice as light and crisp as a windchime, “Laliss.” Her eyes turn brighter with unshed tears. “I can’t believe it.” She stops a couple of paces away from me, spreading out her arms. “May I?”

Aruan’s fingers tighten around mine. I’m not sure how to react. To be honest, I’m not even sure how I feel. Numb would nail it. The moment seems unreal.

When she remains in place with her outstretched arms and tears running over her pale cheeks, I nod awkwardly, at which she immediately wraps me up in a hug, forcing Aruan to let me go.

She presses me tightly against her chest while I just stand there, not sure what to do. Her hair smells like exotic flowers, a soft but intoxicating perfume that reaches my nostrils.

After a second, she releases me from her firm grip to hold me at arm’s length. “Let me look at you.” Her gaze dances over my face before moving in a slow path from my head to my toes. “You look just like your mother.” She turns to the man. “Doesn’t she, Kal?”

The man jerks up his chin, which I suppose counts as a nod.

After smoothing her hands over my shoulders in a final caress, she sets me free. “I’m your aunt, Evolet, your mother’s sister, and this is my mate, Kaleam.” She waves at the man. “But everyone calls him Kal.”

My voice scrapes in my throat. “Elsie.”

Evolet smiles. “They told me that’s what you call yourself now.”

“Drink, anyone?” the queen asks.

She walks to the table where a carafe of golden liquid—my guess is honey wine—and goblets are set out, the wide skirt of her shimmery red dress swishing around her slipper-clad feet.

Evolet stiffens. The tension in the air climbs a few notches.

“No, thank you,” Kal says in a curt manner. “The sooner we get this dinner over with, the sooner we can spend time alone with my mate’s niece.”

Unaffected, the queen pours the wine into the goblets. “We have reason to celebrate. Elsie and Aruan’s mating has brought together two powerful kingdoms.”

“Or driven them to war,” Kal says through clenched teeth.

Aruan and his father both take a menacing step toward Kal, but the queen holds up a hand. “I think there are some things we need to say to clear the air.”

“Is that why you’re wearing your war paint, Kal?” the king asks with a mocking grin.

“It’s ceremonial paint,” Kal says. “Which you would’ve known if you were familiar with our customs.”

“Which you’re not.” Evolet shoots daggers with her eyes at the king. “Because your mate severed the sacred bond that should’ve existed between our families when she banished my niece.”

The king crosses his arms. “Is that why you came? To declare war in my face?”

Aruan steps in front of me, blocking me with his body. His voice drips with pure malice. “Or did you think you could take my mate home with you?” His power rises to the surface, a faint vibration that won’t stay faint for much longer if the meeting continues like this. “Away from me?”

Things are quickly getting out of hand. The atmosphere is volatile enough to blow up in our faces.

“Guys.” I walk around Aruan, placing myself in the middle of the small group of angry people.

“Aren’t we missing the point here? Isn’t this supposed to be a happy occasion?

After wondering all my life who my biological parents were, I’m finally meeting the only family who can tell me anything about them.

I’d prefer it if we could do that without you killing each other. ”

The king inhales deeply and straightens his tunic. “Elsie is right. I didn’t invite you here for a fight.”

I look at the king in surprise. “You invited them? I thought it was Aruan.” After learning that Aruan’s mother sent me to Earth, I never expected her or her mate to invite my biological family for a visit.

Aruan places a hand on my shoulder, offering me comfort with his touch and through our bond.

“I invited them because you’re an Alit,” the king says, looking me straight in the eyes. “And every Alit should know where she has her roots.”

I turn my face toward the queen, expecting her to be upset by such an action from her mate, but she appears serene.

“We’ve been honest with you,” the queen says, addressing my aunt, “because that was the right thing to do.”

Kal sneers. “Now you’re concerned about what’s right.”

The king takes another step toward Kal. “Be careful how you speak to my mate.”

“We’re done here,” Aruan bites out, taking my hand.

I hang back. “Wait.”

Aruan only stops when his mother speaks again.

“Aruan, wait,” she says. “Evolet and Kal are forgetting an important point.”

“And that is?” Kal asks, his upper lip curling.

The queen picks up two goblets. “If I hadn’t sent Elsie away when I did, she would’ve died in the volcanic eruption with her parents. My action saved her life.”

Evolet and Kal stare at each other. They’re quiet for a moment. The way they look at each other is intense. I bet they’re communicating through their bond.

For the first time, I envy that. I’m suddenly and inexplicably jealous of something they share that Aruan and I don’t have. I wonder how it feels when the bond is complete?

After another second, Evolet sighs. “As much as I hate to admit it, you’re right, Nia. The day we lost my sister, her mate, and so many of our family and people was a dark day in the history of Marikanea. And as much as I condemn what you’ve done, I’m also grateful that Elsie survived.”

The queen hands Evolet a goblet. “I say we leave the past where it belongs and embrace the future.” She adds with meaning, “Elsie and Aruan are going to need all the support they can get if they’re to become the best rulers they can be.

Lona needs them, and Marikanea will always have our support and alliance. ”

Kal accepts the goblet the queen offers him, albeit with a tight jaw. “If that’s what my mate desires, so be it.”

The queen smiles from ear to ear. “I’m glad that’s settled.” She hands out the rest of the goblets and raises hers. “To Elsie and Aruan. May they live a long and happy life and be blessed with children.” She holds her son’s eyes as she takes a sip of her wine. “May their bond be strong.”

I stifle an embarrassed sound that turns into an uncomfortable cough. There’s no doubt about what his mother means. She must know our bond isn’t complete, and for some reason, that bothers me. It feels too private.

A mumbled chorus of, “To Elsie and Aruan,” follows.

Aruan shoots me a look that says we have our work cut out for us as he brings his goblet to his lips. Reinstating peace between our families may take time.

“I have so many questions for you,” Evolet says to me. “I can’t wait to show you your home.”

The look in Aruan’s eyes is downright dangerous. “This is her home.”

“Yes, of course.” Evolet smiles. “When I said ‘home,’ I meant the place where Elsie was born.”

“I can’t wait to see Marikanea,” I say quickly, trying to diffuse a potentially explosive argument, which I’m a hundred-percent sure will either end in an uninvited reaction set off by Aruan’s power or in bloodshed. Basically, it boils down to the same thing.

“How will we travel there?” I ask to change the subject.

“I can create portals between kingdoms,” Evolet says.

The queen takes another sip of her drink. “Of course, I’ll also be happy to assist.”

I look down, making sure the stone in my necklace remains red before I drink the wine.

“A poison stone,” Evolet muses, tracing the silver setting with a finger. “That’s very prudent.”

Not wanting to go down that road either, I force a laugh. “Rather safe than sorry, right?”

Evolet smooths a hand over my short hair.

“When rumors reached us that Aruan’s mate had returned from the dead, I didn’t want to believe it.

First of all, the name was different—Elsie instead of Laliss.

Secondly, they said you were a small woman, and us Marikanears are known to be taller than average.

Your mother certainly was.” She gives a sad smile, pausing as if she’s lost in her memories before giving herself a visible shake.

“Then, great tales of how this small woman had controlled dragons reached us, and I knew it had to be true.”

“Rumors travel that far?” I ask, not that I know exactly how far away Marikanea is, as maps are nonexistent on Zerra.

Kal replies. “Alit travel extensively for trade. Portals make it easy.”

“How did you know the rumors were true?” I ask Evolet. “Could my mother command animals?”

Evolet makes big eyes and leans closer. “Your mother could make plants grow.”

“Really?”

“Her power was just as great as yours. One touch from her, and a seedling could turn into a tree overnight.”

Riveted, I ask, “And my father?”

“Your father could create rain,” Kal says. “All he needed was a humid sky. Together, they made a formidable pair.”

Evolet’s eyes glimmer with reverence. “Creating life.”

“Wow,” I say a little wistfully. “Like sun and water.”

Evolet grips my shoulder and gives a quick squeeze. “Precisely.”

I glance at Aruan. If my biological parents were sun and water, what are we? Destruction and chaos? The end of the world as they know it? Or could we be something beautiful, something nurturing and life-giving?

I give a start when Aruan takes my hand and lifts it to his lips. The dark look in his eyes says he knows what I’m thinking.

I hope not.

But then he confirms my first notion when he kisses my fingers and says, “Sometimes, my sweet, destruction can be beautiful.”

I fear he’s right.

I fear he’s already destroyed me, and now it’s too late to salvage my heart.

“Don’t worry,” he says, pressing a whisper on my ear. “I’ll make it good.”

Jerking my face up, I stare into his silver eyes and find the meaning there.

By “it,” he means my surrender.