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Shoulders shaking, I joined Kingston in laughter while Imogen winked at me. Her accent was probably the most endearing thing about her, and so familiar. It reminded me so much of Earth.
“Also, age is nothing more than a useless number. I do look much younger than I am,” she concluded, crossing her arms over her chest.
“If that aids your sleep at night.” Kingston shook his head.
“It does, honey,” she admitted. “It truly does.”
* * *
To our surprise, Imogen met us on the sixth floor as we headed to dinner that night. She stood before us in her commander gear, pulling an honest smile out of Evie, the chief, and the guard.
A gift, considering the somber fog that wrapped around us with Penelope’s and Ember’s passing.
Except, Imogen’s arm shield and armor was different from ours. Instead of silver, it was black and gold—a similar style to the one my father wore in the portrait. The imposing sight reminded us she hadn’t been just any warrior, she had been the Harbinger of Justice’s Commander, and together, they had led the Skyborne Legion.
“Imogen was the Harbinger of Justice’s Commander,” Kingston announced to the Elevated Warriors, causing a wave of astonishment to roll over them. “She retired after he left to the Mirror World on the king and queen’s special mission.”
“Now that his name is being cleared, she is ready to join us once more,” Evie added, having learned the details of our conversation after she returned from the honeycombs.
The pride I felt for my father’s life and legacy, increased with the reverence that shone in the Elevated Warrior’s eyes at the recognition. Many here knew her only as the caretaker of Dragons, having grown up in a time where my father was already gone, and she was hidden in plain sight… waiting for this day. Waiting for my arrival to fulfill the promise she made to my parents.
Elijah helped Harper balance as they all bowed their heads to Imogen in respect, and Asher stepped forwards. “Commander Firesky, it will be my honor to concede my position as commander of the Legion—”
“Oh, honey. No.” She shook her red curls. “I wouldn’t dream of getting you out of that position. You are not only brilliant and a great complement to Kingston’s leadership, but you also look way too good in that uniform.”
It was then that I finally recognized her accent. Imogen had a beautiful southern belle drawl to her voice, accentuated by the amusement she made no effort to hide. I almost expected her to tell him,“Oh, bless your heart.”
“Getting you out of that uniform though, is a different story…”
Laughter erupted out of us, including Asher, who began to turn red until the chief cleared his throat. “He is my daughter’s mate.”
“Oh, right. Forgive me, darling. I meant no disrespect. Just stating the facts, that’s all. I may be thirty-seven, but I still have eyes to see.”
“Forty-six,” Kingston corrected just as Willow joined us in the hall.
Her gaze moved past me as though I wasn’t even there, to Imogen, and finally landed on Evie. Holding her hands before her, she moved to Evie’s side without acknowledging my presence. It hurt. My chest constricted when she pointedly ignored me, because Willow, like the rest of them, had become my family. I just hoped I could find a way to make things right between us. The last thing I wanted was for my presence here to cause her more pain.
Asher chuckled, still as red as a fire engine. “No problem.”
The guard’s amusement soon turned to confusion, and they all looked to the chief, to the princess, to Imogen for an answer to their silent question. If Imogen wasn’t here to take Asher’s place, then why was she here?
“My apologies. I came because I assumed you would have had the time to tell them,” Imogen offered, glancing at me.
Evie and I exchanged a glance, and my chest sank with the heavy sigh that left me. “No need to apologize. I was just preparing to tell them when you found us.”
“Tell us what?” Harper asked. “I thought we were waiting for Lady Willow.”
“We were,” Evie conceded, “but there is one truth that Braxton wants to share with you.”
Facing my brothers and sisters, I let the weight of secrets fall off me. It was no longer needed.
“When I first arrived here, Evie told you that I was a slave, that she had found me after I escaped the Hollow, but that is not the truth. She only said it because she was trying to protect me. She was trying to give you a chance to get to know me, the real me, without the prejudice born from the hurt you all carried inside you.”
My eyes searched theirs, finding bewilderment in them, until my attention settled on Willow.
“I am truly sorry the lie was necessary at all. I was just finding out who I was and my place here. In a way, I still am, but I swear to you that the last thing I ever wanted was to deceive you. Your pain is my pain and I value you more than I can say. You are my family; I need you to know that.”
Tears gathered in Willow’s eyes before she dragged them away from me, unable to even hold my gaze. I understood she needed time, she had lost far too much, but the gesture burned deeper than I could imagine.
