“Yes. She belongs with us.” With me.
“She might not feel the same.”
“She will.” There’s no question in my mind.
nine
. . .
Aten
Nobody says anything for a long while.
We hadn’t planned anything past seeing Lyle. Hell, my only plan was to take the first steps and hope Aslendrix would grant us the luck needed for the rest of the way. So far, it has worked, and I didn’t need to rely solely on Nettle leading us through Estereah, thanks to Calix.
But going to Nehandun was a much bigger ask.
It explained why there was no sign or even a whisper of connection between me and Ever anymore. If she were heading there, it would be days at sea. The days we’ve taken to find our way here. But she’s alone.
“We go to Nehandun,” I announce.
“No!” Kalan cuts in. “There is nowe. I can’t travel with all of you.”
“We stay together,” I insist.
“Yeah, we didn’t leave just to come home without her,” Calix joins in.
“You won’t be going home at all if you don’t listen to me.” Kalan slams his hand on the table, but it doesn’t silence us.
“Fenix killed my brother. I deserve to go.” Kyra shoves her chair back from the table and plants her hands flat on the surface, her own line in the sand.
“What’s your name?” Kalan asks, and I almost don’t want to know why. Everything out of his mouth seems to either build on the secrets we’ve been dealt or uncover ones we didn’t even know about.
“Kyra Star. My brother was Micah.”
“Your parents were Angelique and Joshua?”
“No. Solana and Cyrus.” Kyra’s eyes furrow with confusion.
“I see.”
“Did you know my parents? When you were in Kirrasia?”
“Only by name. I knew Angelique and Joshua. I’m guessing you’re, what, twenty-two? So, you would have been too young to remember.”
“Remember what? Ten, what is he talking about? Micah is my brother.” Kyra’s arms begin to shake as she holds herself.
“Angelique and Joshua Star had a baby boy. Twenty years ago. Just before the Battle of Decree.”
“No. No…” She turns around, a breeze suddenly trickling through the cracks in the window, chilling the air around us all. “Micah is my brother. Our parents are Solana and Cyrus.”
“He is your brother in every way that matters. And Fenix took him away from you. But he was not your biological brother, he’s your cousin. I’m so sorry, Kyra.” Lyle’s voice sounds from the door. She steps in and heads right for Kyra. “I’m sorry, Kyra.”
“No,” her voice cracks as Lyle reaches to wrap her arms around her. The contact, so unusual for us, breaks the last thread holding Kyra standing, and she dissolves into sobs in her arms.
The taste of grief is sour in the air, and I leave the kitchen, following Kalan.
Secrets and lies. They just keep coming.
