Page 85 of Monster's Melody

Since then, I’d made many friends at Guardian Academy, and had managed to find my own way without Vorzak at my side, but it was still strange, knowing that we were on separate paths and being uncertain whether we’d find our way back to each other or whether those paths had diverged permanently.

I’d always assumed Vorzak would be my head advisor when I was finally forced to take the Snow Beast throne.I never imagined that he wouldn’t be by my side, my big brother by two minutes taking my back through all the days of our lives.

I still believed that when I went away to Guardian Academy.I even believed it when we went off for our second and our third years, but when The Darlings told me over our holiday break that they’d met their mate, I had my doubts.

Vorzak’s mate might not want anything to do with the Snow Beasts.She might have a family who wanted to keep her close.

I began to fear I might not have my big brother at my side as I’d always planned.

Then, the heartache of that got worse when he came home with his mate and I discovered that I’d lost the ability to hear The Hissies.

It was a truly terrible shock, not just for me, but I think for The Hissies as well.I’m not sure they understood at first and when they did, their sorrow matched mine.

We’d always been a family.

A weird one, to be sure, but still a family of sorts.

Vorzak.The Hissies.Me.Our parents.And since I’d gone away to Guardian Academy, Ember, who typically accompanied me home for the holidays because she was avoiding her own family for as long as she could, and Ash.

Now, Jasmine had joined us and as unexpected as it was, she slid seamlessly right into our family and I started to think everything was going to turn out perfect.

And in a way, it was.

Vorzak came home from an impromptu camping trip with a Fae Familiar for Jasmine, who enjoyed causing chaos before disappearing for hours on end, and the best surprise of all for me: the ability to hear The Hissies once more.

Hissies.

Love.

Kiko.

Miss.

Kiko.

“I know, My Darlings,” I crooned to them.“I missed you too.”

Hissies.

Play.

Kiko.

Jazzy.

Zak.

And so, we did.For the following two days, we played with The Hissies and with Rainbow, whenever she deigned to appear.

They were truly wonderful days.

Then, when those two days were up, we said our goodbyes on the docks and went our separate ways once more.

Vorzak, The Hissies and Jasmine, caught the ferry to Blackthorn Academy while Ember and I caught ours to the guardians’ portal, which would then take us to our own academy.

“Ash says there’s trouble brewing,” Ember said to me quietly as we stood against the rail, staring down into the choppy waters as our ferry got underway.

“There’s always trouble brewing,” I said wearily.

“Especially at Guardian Academy,” Ember agreed.