Page 2 of Immortal Bonds

He'd forgotten. Oh, how he had forgotten.

Mira's arms wrapped around his neck, and he lifted her off her feet, his arms banding around her waist. He'd spun her around, and she giggled much as she did years ago.

"I have missed you," she said into his shoulder, where her face was buried.

"And I have missed you. It has been far too long."

She pulled back, hands on his shoulders, as she nodded, her face going stern. "The last time you were here, the children were all smaller. They are grown now. They're doing adult things. Romilly is king. Where have you been? Why have you not come sooner?"

Thalric furrowed his brow. "Where have I been? I’ve been exactly where you told me to be. Helping the dragons settle and find their peace. I've been leading them as you asked."

She frowned. "Thalric, honey, that was a century ago. Those people are fine now. They can vote in a new ruler. You don't need to stay any longer."

Thalric froze, his body locking tight at the news. He hadn't come to San Noctis looking for a chance to move home. He'd come to support his sister with this council vote, as was his right as an extended member of the royal family.

An office of this nature was so much more.

"You're serious?" he breathed out.

She pushed at his body, urging him to put her down. When she landed on her feet, another figure stood right behind her. He looked up to spot Silas standing there with a grin.

"Look what the cat dragged in," he teased.

Thalric scoffed as he shook his head at his brother-in-law. Silas and he had grown close throughout the years given that they had to communicate often about royal matters and decisions made by the king. He found a connection with the other man. Someone who understood what he was going through trying to lead the people he'd been placed with.

"Yes, well, it's your lucky day. I got dragged in, as you said, and you get to enjoy my presence." He let the part of him that always put on a show come out. He pulled his shoulders back, letting his massive chest expand, the muscles rippling even beneath the suit he wore. He heard gasps and could feel the weight of others' eyes on him even more.

Mira rolled her eyes, letting him know he wasn't fooling anyone with the show. She'd never call him out on it. It would do neither of them any good for others to think he was playing a game with them or something.

"What your sister is trying to tell you," Silas said, drawing Thalric's gaze back to him, "is that we only ever meant for your stay there to be temporary. We had hoped you would be back to see the children grow and spend time with us. Maybe take a mate of your own. Someone special.”

Thalric could feel his eyes starting to sting. He knew he was moments away from sobbing if he didn't get control of himself.

Mira must have seen it too, because she poked him in the chest. "We're not doing that today. Just know the offer stands, and I will have someone in place there tomorrow while you're here. They could take over and everything will be fine. We'll even send for your things, so you don't have to go back."

She beamed up at him, and he had no fight against what was going to happen. It was inevitable. He would be returning to San Noctis. He’d get to return home. His heart leapt at the idea.

"Let's go inside. These people have work to do. The longer you stand here looking like that, the more they are going to be distracted."

At Silas's words, the people around the space rushed to work. He chuckled good-naturedly. The former king wouldn't be angry. He knew the effect that Thalric had on others. He suspected it was more to give Thalric a break.

"Lead the way," Thalric said, extending his arm for Mira to hold and bobbing his head in Silas's direction. "Show me what all I've missed."

And while he had at one point in time lived in the castle for a very short while, he hadn't been back in many, many years.

Mira was correct in that he should have returned sooner. He could see it with every hall they passed, every piece of their lives that he didn't know about. When they came across Hadrian and Eden in a playroom, he nearly stumbled over his own two feet.

"Is that Uncle Thalric?" Hadrian asked, his voice showing how incredulous he thought the notion.

Eden snorted and shook his head. "It can't be. That old geezer would look nothing like this now."

For a moment he was affronted. How dare this little shit say that? But then he saw the smirk in Eden's gaze. The humor laced there gave away his nephew's teasing.

"You can't speak out of turn. I can show you a thing or two if you'd like. Prove to you why I am the best uncle." Thalric lifted his hand, waving it around, letting sparks fly from it. It was a simple spell, magic that didn't take much out of him, but you would have thought he set the room on fire.

Eden jumped over the couch and stumbled forward. His mouth dropped open. "I can't believe you did that. I always thought that I had imagined it as a kid. Like, you know, people who believe in things that don't actually exist. But you did have magic like that. It's so cool."

Hadrian came over next, though he was much slower about it. He was staring at Thalric with a sort of hesitation. He didn't know why, given that they were family and he loved his nephew even if he hadn't been back in a while.