I hadn't spoken to Eres since I'd gotten back from Serena's room.

I wasn't mad at him. I couldn't be mad at him.

Maybe I was just angry at the world. Maybe I just missed my sisters.

Sister.

I would never see Sev again.

I willed the tears away. Crying wouldn't help anyone. I needed to be strong for the family I had left.

"I found keys!" Eres walked into the room with a bright smile on his face. "I may or may not have stolen them, but that just shows how much I love- what's wrong?" He frowned as he noticed my face.

I smiled. "Nothing, I just miss Kovi."

He smiled again. "I stole you keys."

I held my wrists out to him and smiled. "Thank you. It was starting to burn."

He freed my wrists and ankles, kissing the skin where the vertez had irritated it.

When he was done he shoved the keys into his pocket. "Did Serena give you a date?"

I shook my head. "We didn't really talk about that."

He pulled me to my feet and wrapped his arms around my waist. "What did you talk about then?"

I shrugged. "Magi history, each other."

"Something is bothering you." He gave me a pointed look.

"I'm fine."

"Veya, I can't help you if I don't know what's wrong."

Instead of answering him I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned into him.

He sighed. "It's about Kat, isn't it?"

I didn't answer, he took that as a yes.

"I wouldn't have hurt her." He ran his fingers down my spine.

"But if I wasn't here, you wouldn't have protested it?"

"I wouldn't have had a valid reason."

I pulled away. "She's a child. How is that not reason enough?"

He gave me a sad look. "If her parents decided she was old enough, by royal standards she is."

I let go of him and turned around. "I will never understand royals."

He laughed once. "I rarely understand us."

He wrapped his arms around me from behind. "My father gave me a ring today."

I scoffed. "To use on your own time, I'm sure."

He hummed. "He wants us to have the full royal wedding experience."

"I will be getting married in the Spirit temple, thank you." I leaned against him.

"I was thinking we could do both? I'm not sure my parents will recognize a magi wedding." He sighed.

"Doesn't the royal council watch the consummation of a royal marriage?" I turned to look at him.

He laughed. "We don't have to do that if you don't want to."

I grimaced. "I was hoping that was a crazy rumor."

He lifted me up and set me on the dresser. "What do you mean?" He grinned. "Does the idea of being watched by a group of old men and my parents turn you off?"

"And they have the audacity to call magi disgusting creatures."

"I mean, they can't see anything."

"That does not make it better." I laughed.

"Should I tell my father we will be skipping that tradition?" He raised his eyebrows playfully.

"I would leave you before I let that happen."

"That's a little dramatic."

I pushed against his chest. "I'm serious. I have a hard enough time with sex when it's just you, I will not let a group of old men watch."

He frowned. "What do you mean you already have a hard time?"

"I have to convince myself you aren't going to leave me. But don't worry about it, it's getting easier."

"Why haven't you told me?" He frowned.

"Because it's not your responsibility to fix me?" I kissed his cheek. "And like I said, it's getting better."

...
I beelined for the king's suite as soon as we boarded the boat. That bed was more comfortable than Eres's.

Serena followed me for some reason.

I fell back onto the bed and looked at her. "If you followed me to discuss business, I don't want to."

She smiled. "We're going to have enough business talk when we get to Ceravis. We can relax for now."

"Why'd you follow me then?"

"You were the first one on the ship and you ran away. I wanted to introduce you to the other council members and a few of my guards."

"Isn't that technically business? Also, why are you bringing guards? Aren't we going somewhere safer? Unless you know something that I don't."

She shook her head. "I wouldn't call it business, I'd say it's a good use of your time. We're going to be traveling together for a while, you might as well get to know them. And yes, Ceravis is safer. These guards moved to Verkaina so they have family in the area."

"Serena!" I heard Eres's voice down the hallway. She turned to look at him.

"Have you seen- never mind." He noticed me on the bed. He looked almost startled.

"What's wrong?" I sat up.

"Um." He looked between Serena and me.

"Spit it out Lykain." Serena stared at him. "We can only fix problems if we know what they are."

"Well, it's not really a problem. I'm not even sure I'm right."

"Eres, what is it?"

"Your sister was nine, right?"

I wasn't prepared for that. I had to hold tears back. "...Yes, why?"

"I think, I can't be sure, but I think I found her."

"Where? How?" I was suddenly on my feet.

"With one of the soldiers coming with, but Veya-"

I was already out the door.

I ran down the hallway and toward the doors.

I almost stopped breathing when I saw her. She was alive. She was here.

She looked completely unharmed.

Her hair was tied back in two neat braids, the way my father used to do it.

The way my father used to do it.

Then I noticed the soldier with a hand on her shoulder.

Sev hadn't noticed me yet. But my father was staring right at me.

Eres touched my arm. "Veya."

My name got Sev's attention. As she looked up at me tears started to form in her eyes.

She ran towards me and I fell to the ground to pull her into my arms.

Her small sobs broke me and relieved me all at the same time.

I held her tighter than I should've. "I'm so sorry. I should've gone after you."

She sniffled. "You did the right thing."

"I thought I lost you forever." Tears fell down my face.

She buried her face in my neck. "It was so scary."

"It's over now." I rubbed her back. "You're safe now."

I looked up at my father. A silent question in my eyes. He shook his head as if to say 'later'.

I wrapped my arms tighter around Sev. She was alive and she was okay. And that was all that mattered.

...
ngl, i hate this chap.

like i just didn't vibe w it.

I would've rewritten it, but i was already like 600 words in and i didn't feel like it.

so eh.

<3