I used to think about this moment all the time. I wondered what it would be like if we ever saw each other again.

I always expected him to be defensive and have a good argument. I never expected him to apologize.

I was sitting on the bed. Sev was asleep in my arms and Eres was sitting beside me for moral support.

He was leaning against the wall on the other side of the room. He looked exactly the same.

"I left in a fit of rage. When I came back everything was gone." He looked at the ground. "I went to Sifa but," His voice cracked. "I saw you practicing with one of the Spirits in the village. You looked fine. You looked better than fine, you looked happy. I thought maybe she was right about Sifa."

He looked up at me. "I couldn't stay. I couldn't live with her. I thought you were better off with her. Clearly, I was wrong."

I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"

He crossed his arms. "Why are you here, Veya? Why is Sev here? Where is Kovi? Why isn't she doing her job?"

"Oh." I looked down at Sev. "She got herself killed in a blizzard a few years ago."

He was quiet for a moment. Then he quietly whispered. "I'm so sorry, I had no idea."

I laughed. "Don't be sorry. It was one of the best things that ever happened to me." I looked up at him. "I envied you for so long. I wanted to be able to run away from her and all of her bullshit. But if I left, Kovi and Sev would've been all alone."

Guilt was all over his face. "Veya, I know I can't-"

"Stop apologizing. I'm not mad at you, I was never mad at you." I looked down as tears started to form in my eyes. "I hated that you were able to leave. I hated that you had a good reason for it. I hated wishing you would come back to take us away from her. I wanted to hate you, but I couldn't."

I wiped some of the fallen tears. "Kovi hates you though. So you can save those apologies for her."

He gave me a sad smile.

Eres grabbed my hand. I squeezed his in return.

"Um," I sniffled. "Where'd you find Sev?"

"A small military camp outside of Sifa. I was a spy for Serena at the time, and I happened to be stationed at the camp when they brought her there." He looked down at the ground. "I managed to convince my superior to spare her. Thank Gaiana she has my eyes."

Sev stirred slightly. I squeezed her lightly. "How'd you know it was her? Green eyes aren't uncommon."

He shrugged. "I don't know. I just saw her from a distance and knew there was something about her."

"And she was fine with you? She wasn't scared, or sad, or mad, or any-"

"Veya, she's alright." He cut me off. "She was pretty shaken up at first, but she seemed to calm down after a meal and some sleep." He reassured me.

"How much does she know about you?"

"Everything." He sighed. "Which brings me to a question that I've been avoiding slash dreading."

"What?" I looked up at him, confused.

"I told her who I was and she accepted me like I'd been there her whole life. I don't think I can leave again. I thought I was doing you a favor when I left the first time, and I know that's a shitty reason but it's the only good one I have." He looked at Sev. "I was a shit parent. I am fully aware of that. And I have no right to just walk back into her life when I wasn't there for you or Kovi, but I think leaving again would break her."

"Are you asking me for a second chance?" I stared at him, still confused.

He nodded.

I laughed. "I love her, don't get me wrong. But I didn't sign up for this." My voice took on a surprisingly soft tone. "I'm so tired. I don't have any real friends." I looked at Eres, who looked slightly offended. "I didn't have a chance to think about a relationship until Sev was literally kidnapped." I looked back at my father. "You weren't a bad parent. You were actually really good when you were around."

He smiled. "Thank you."

"No, thank you. I don't want to raise another teenager." I glanced at Eres. "At least not anytime soon."

My father glanced at Eres. "Crown prince of Kalheim, right?"

Eres nodded once.

"No brothers then, good."

I gasped. "That is not funny."

"What?" My father shrugged, supressing a laugh. "I just thought I should check, considering family history and everything."

I looked at Eres, who was trying to suppress a smile and failing. I shook my head. "It's not funny."

He nodded, smiling even brighter. "Totally not funny."

I glared at them. "I hate you both."

"You break my heart." Eres placed a hand over his chest dramatically and gasped.

"I'll break your neck too." I glared at him.

Are you always this aggressive? Irina.

Yes. Yes she is. Caspian.

I groaned. "Why don't you understand the concept of privacy."

My father looked at my like I was crazy. Probably because I looked crazy.

"The other council members watch her sometimes." Eres explained.

Why don't you understand the concept of entertainment? Irina.

And you can't fuck your way out of this one. Cassius.

Your dad has been back in your life for like an hour, and he's already a cock block. Caspian.

What the actual fuck is going on? Serena.

Whoops, forgot you were here. Irina.

The bedroom door swang open. A woman I had never seen before walked into the room, followed by Serena.

Serena grabbed the woman by the collar of her shirt and pulled her out of the room. Serena muttering apologies, the unknown woman muttering curses.

"That's new." Eres stared at the door.

Cassius, I will beat you. Mari.

Ugh, why do you have to be all respectful and shit. We're bored. Irina.

Then go watch Javus or something. Leave Veya alone. Mari.

Um, fuck that. Javus.

Why is Javus entertaining?

He's learning a new skill... Caspian.

Yeah. And it's taking a lot of my brain power, so if y'all could shut the fuck up and let me focus. Javus.

I second that.

Veya, please let Eres rail you before you get here, for everyone's sake. Caspian.

"What the hell?" I heard Serena yell.

I heard another person laughing.

"How do I even respond to that?" I yelled towards Serena.

"Respond to what?" Eres raised his eyebrows.

I looked at Sev, still asleep in my arms, and my father, leaning up against the wall. "I'll tell you later."

"I got it!" A female voice yelled back. It sounded like Synoya.

Could you have said that later? We're on a small boat. Sound travels. Synoya.

"I will kill you in your sleep." I glared down the hallway.

"You're welcome!" She yelled back.

...
I haven't used the mind-link in a while. I missed it.

<3