Page 49

S ister? Thorne was her brother? The King of Monterre was her brother.

She reeled, glancing around the table. Quinn was looking at her with surprise, Jorrar and Raine were beaming, and Casimir was shaking his head as if he couldn’t believe it.

Before she had a chance to speak, Thorne pulled her up from her chair into a hug, accepting her immediately.

“I’ve always longed for a sister,” he whispered as he pulled back and looked at her again.

She smiled, looking at him. Truly looking. They looked so much alike. How had she not seen it before? Though different shades, they both had red hair and the exact same eyes. Even their facial features were similar though he wasn’t as fair skinned as she and had no freckles.

“She told me to find you,” Ava whispered as they looked at each other.

“Who?”

“Mom,” she said as a tear rolled down her cheek. “She said to find the man from my dreams. That he would help me. ”

Thorne pulled her tight again. Family. She had family.

Alive. As the realization washed over her, she leaned into him again as he hugged her.

The room was silent as the two siblings held each other and cried.

For their grief, the pain of thinking they were truly alone.

For the lost years they could have had, and for the future, they cried.

Though they didn’t even know each other, Ava could feel the bond deep within her. Could feel the truth being revealed as she held her brother. Her brother .

They released each other, wiping their tears.

“We still have unanswered questions,” Thorne said and gestured for her to sit back down. With everyone seated at the table, he began. “Why are you still in your human form even though you’re here? Why don’t you have magic?”

Ava shook her head. “I don’t know. My—our—grandfather’s journal briefly mentioned a prophecy. But it didn’t say anything else.”

“A prophecy?” asked Raine. “We’ve never heard anything about a prophecy.”

“Alright,” replied Thorne. “Do you know why Deidamia was torturing you? Was it for information?”

“No,” she said. “They were trying to induce my great tribulation or whatever it’s called.”

“That’s horrific. I’m so sorry.” Anger flashed in his eyes. “But I don’t think that would have worked. Since you’re technically still human…” He tapped his fingers on the table. “Anything else?”

“They wanted my blood to open more portals. To bring in more of their army but I think I needed more magic to do that.”

“You wouldn’t be strong enough yet to create new portals,” said Jorrar. “Only activate established ones.”

“Are there any more other than the one I came through?” she asked .

“None that we’re aware of,” said Thorne.

“So… what now?” asked Ava.

“Now we go visit Nelida,” he replied.

“Who’s Nelida?” she asked.

Raine groaned beside her. “She’s a terrifying wood nymph in a terrifying swamp and we get to go talk to her.”

“Um… is that why everyone’s dressed for battle?” she asked, attempting a joke.

“Precisely,” said Thorne. “Nelida is a seer. And while she is odd…” He glanced at Raine. “She isn’t that bad, and she’ll provide us with the answers we seek.”

Pulling herself together, Ava responded, “Okay, then. When do we leave?”

“Immediately,” replied Thorne.

“But what about breakfast?” asked Raine and Quinn in unison.

“Food has been packed for us. We must leave now to get there and back before dark.”

“This is a good place to rest,” said Casimir as the group walked through the woods, gesturing to a couple of fallen logs. Surrounded by trees, Ava looked around at the dense forest, birds chirping merrily in the early morning sunlight as the sound of a small stream babbled nearby.

They had been walking through the forests of the kingdom for about an hour. Before leaving, the staff outfitted them all with small satchels containing food and water and Ava was starving as she sat on a lichen covered log and opened a package from her bag containing bread, cured meats and cheeses.

Raine plopped down next to her. “Finally, breakfast,” he said as he opened his own food .

They ate silently for a few moments before she asked the group, “So where exactly, does this wood nymph live?”

“The Whispering Bog,” said Thorne. “We’re still an hour away.”

“Wow, that’s not an ominous name at all,” she mumbled, taking a bite of bread.

“You have no idea,” said Raine.

She looked at him. “So, I take it you’re scared of her?”

He scoffed. “I’m not scared. I just… she gives me the creeps.”

Quinn laughed from the log she was seated upon next to Thorne. “You’re a liar.”

Ava looked between all of them, waiting for an explanation.

Thorne spoke up. “The first time we ventured into The Whispering Bog, we were young. There were rumors about the wood nymph who could tell you your future and, feeling brave, we desired to see what it was like.”

“I told them it was a terrible idea,” said Jorrar before taking a sip of water.

Thorne nodded. “He did. But we snuck out and went anyway, against everyone’s wishes. We made it to the swamp, to her tree, but the moment she emerged Raine turned and ran all the way back to Mosshaven.”

Casimir chuckled. “He had nightmares for months after that.”

Raine shrugged. “Like I said, she’s creepy.”

“Don’t worry,” Ava said to Raine. “I’ll protect you from the mean old swamp witch.”

Raine smiled. “Why thank you, dainty human.”

Quinn looked at her. “Can you fight? Do you even know how to use a dagger?”

Ava’s shoulders slumped. “No. I took some classes to learn how to defend myself when I was younger, but they don’t teach you how to use weapons.”

“That’s useless,” said Quinn .

“I’m pretty good with a bow and arrow though,” she added. “I was on an archery team when I was in my twenties and won a lot of competitions.”

“See?” said Raine as he playfully patted Ava’s head. “She’ll come in handy after all. Besides, she killed that helwraith.”

“True,” Quinn admitted, then looked between Ava and Raine. “What’s up with you two? Are you suddenly friends or something?”

“Yes,” they replied at the same time.

Raine put his arm around her and yanked her close.

Thorne pointed at Casimir and Quinn. “You two should take a page out of Raine’s book. Learn to relax and have a little fun once and a while.”

“Says the king who never relaxes,” quipped Quinn.

Thorne glared at her while Casimir remained silent, expression unreadable.

“Fine.” Quinn sighed. “I hate to admit it… but—” she gave Ava a reluctant smile. “It’ll be nice to have some feminine energy around here. It’s exhausting being the only one among this group of assholes.”

Ava smiled back. Had Quinn just accepted her?

“Ha!” Raine looked at her. “I knew you’d come around eventually.”

“Oh, fuck off pretty boy.”

Casimir walked at the front of the party next to his king. Jorrar and Quinn were behind them and Raine took up the rear with Ava. They were getting closer to the swamp filled with the treacherous mists and hungry beings who resided there.

“We need to stop soon and prepare everyone for what we may face in there,” Casimir whispered .

“I know.”

They continued walking through dense woods, the landscape slowly changing as they neared the territory of the wood nymph.

The trees were more gnarled with few leaves, mostly draped in gray and green mosses and the ground was becoming soggier as they closed in on the watery terrain.

Birds had stopped their chirping and the only sounds they heard were faint cries of the swamp creatures, calling to each other as they hunted.

He stopped and turned to the group. “We need to discuss our plan before we enter the swamp. There are beings in there that will try to trick you. They will try to lure you into the surrounding pools. They will use voices of those you love, whispers of souls long deceased.” He looked around and his eyes met Ava’s.

She looked terrified and he felt a small pang of guilt for dragging her along into another perilous situation.

“We remain in pairs and watch each other. Do not follow the voices. Stick together. The mists will try to confuse and separate us. And whatever you do, do not go into the water.”

Thorne added, “Skye is on standby should something go wrong. But the swamp is not friendly to the other animals, so they had to remain behind.” He turned to Ava. “Ava, you’re with Casimir. Quinn, you’re with me and Raine and Jorrar will stay together.”

Casimir tensed as he looked to his king. “What?” he said at the same time as Ava.

“You’re the strongest fighter and she’s still human. You’ll be able to protect her best. Stay in the center. Quinn and I will lead,” he answered. He then grabbed his bow and quiver full of arrows off his back and walked to Ava, handing it to her. “Something familiar should you need it.”

“Thank you,” she said.

The party rearranged themselves and Thorne spoke from the front. “Let’s go.”

Casimir walked quietly next to Ava as they began their trek into the swamp.

The trees were completely different now, twisting together with no greenery at all and there was a pale mist snaking its way through them, getting denser the further along they went.

The wet ground squelched beneath their feet as they made sure to avoid the deep pools of water scattered around them.

Thorne had tasked him to protect their princess.

Princess . He was still in disbelief of the new revelation from earlier this morning.

The human woman they had found lost in the woods, snarling and terrified like a feral animal.

Bruised and beaten. This whole time she had been Thorne’s sister.

Deidamia had been torturing their princess and it infuriated him.