I don't know why I was surprised to see that Ceravis hadn't changed. I hadn't been gone very long.

Even though everything looked the same, everything felt different.

I could feel the power around me. All twelve artifacts united for the first time in centuries, and all twelve council members were in the same area for the first time in decades.

There was something else too, something new. I was confident it was magic, but it wasn't anything I had ever felt before.

It reminded me of how the air felt when a child was born or added to the Spirit clan. But it was different somehow.

I brushed the thoughts aside. The feeling in the air was the last thing I needed to worry about.

I had to tell Kovi that our father was alive... and here.

Serena, Aspen, Synoya, and Naomi left to go meet the other council members. I told Eres to join them, but he decided to be stubborn and stay with me.

Eres, my father, and Sev followed me to the house where Kovi and Senna were waiting.

Sev was practically skipping down the road so I wasn't worried about her. I was worried about Kovi's reaction.

If she refused to let our father back into her life, she would be my responsibility again. And even though I felt guilty about it, I really didn't want that.

I'd been taking care of Kovi and Sev for years. I assumed I would be taking care of them until they could take care of themselves and I was fine with that.

Until I realized how much I was missing out on.

I didn't want to be the Veya that never stepped out of Sifa anymore. I didn't want to be the Veya who was so consumed with responsibilities that she didn't have time for fun. I didn't want to be the Veya that forced herself to turn off her feelings.

I wanted to be the Veya who went to Kalhiem because she wanted to spend more time with her boyfriend. I wanted to be the Veya who laughed with other council members. I wanted to be the Veya who was basically engaged.

I couldn't be that Veya if I was taking care of Kovi.

I glanced at Eres. He looked like a god as walked beside me.

His face was so perfect it could've been carved out of marble. His stormy eyes moved over the streets and the people, taking in every bit of information that they could.

Every so often he noticed something he hadn't seen before. A type of fabric or fruit, a cut of meat. He tried the words so softly I barely heard them. He pronounced a few of the words wrong and I quietly corrected him. He repeated the word properly and squeezed my hand lightly.

I remembered the library in Kalhiem. I had only been there once, and I didn't think it was very remarkable at the time. I knew Eres spent a lot of his time there, now I wondered how many of those books he had read.

Eres seemed a little upset when we stopped in front of the door. I gave him a small smile as I knocked. "We'll have plenty of time to walk around later."

He glanced behind us at my father, who was now holding a sleeping Sev, and whispered to me. "Not what I'm worried about."

I tried to ignore that comment. I wanted to think that I was the only one who had a bad feeling about this.

The door opened and Senna was standing on the other side.

He smiled at me and nodded toward my father. "Mari told me what was going on, but we thought it would be better if we waited to tell Kovi."

I nodded. "That was a good decision, I'd rather her hear it from me."

Senna glanced at Eres. "Who's your friend?"

Eres held out his hand. "Eres Lykain, nice to meet you."

Senna stared at his hand for a second, then shook it. "Senna Trivils," He looked almost relieved, I wasn't sure why. "Kovi told me about the deal you two made, Elyse should be-"

"I'm not here for Elyse." Eres motioned to the door in front of us then slipped his hands into his pockets. "I do intend to bring her back to Kalhiem, but right now," Something changed in his eyes. There was almost a challenge in them. "I'm here for Veya."

Senna shifted. He forced a laugh. "You're here for Veya? Did you two become best friends during your travels together or something?"

"Or something," Eres smiled. It wasn't like his usual smile, there was something malevolent about it. I didn't like it.

Senna looked at me. "Is there a reason Mari decided not to tell me about this?"

"Maybe because it's not any of your business." I shrugged.

Eres leaned back slightly. His posture radiated confidence. "Maybe she thought you already knew?"

"Why would I already know?" Senna almost laughed.

I looked down at the ground. I didn't know what Eres was going to say, but I knew it wouldn't end well.

"Our engagement is all anyone can talk about back in Kalhiem. I'm surprised the news hasn't reached here yet."

"I'm sorry, engagement?" I felt him staring at me.

I looked up. I didn't know what to say. I couldn't explain that we weren't actually engaged, that would only make this worse.

Kovi saved me. "As interesting as this conversation is, can we have it later? I'd like to talk to my sister."

She sounded angry, she had clearly seen Dad. I didn't care, I wanted to be done with this conversation more than she could know.

I pushed past Senna and pulled her into my arms. "I missed you."

She returned my embrace with much less enthusiasm. "Why is he here?"

I turned around and looked at my father and Eres, both on the other side of the door. I cringed internally as I spoke. "Which one?"

"Well I heard your entire conversation, so I know why His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Kalhiem is here." She glared at Eres. "And we're going to have a long conversation about that," She shifted her gaze and glared at our father. "Later."

Senna looked between Kovi and my father. "I'm gonna go..."

Kovi nodded. "Good choice."

Eres looked at me and then at Kovi. His confidence from earlier was gone.

I almost laughed. He was calm and confident as he taunted a grown man, who also happened to be a fully realized death magi. But he cowered in the presence of a barely developed girl, half his size.

"Don't go anywhere. We have to discuss you later." Kovi glared at him.

Eres walked into the house and sat down in the chair farthest away from Kovi.

My father followed him through the door, but he sat down on the couch.

A whole three feet closer to Kovi. Such bravery.

Dad placed Sev on the other side of the couch and draped a blanket over her.

There was only one chair left in the room and it was facing the couch. If Kovi wanted to sit she would have to look directly at Dad.

She looked at me. "Stay here, I'll grab myself a chair from the kitchen."

I shrugged. "No need, take the open chair. I'll stand."

"You were traveling all day. Sit." She shook her head.

"Fine." I walked over to the chair where Eres was sitting, moved his hands out of the way, and sat on his lap. I smiled at Kovi. "Take the open chair."

She stared at me for a second, then moved to sit down in the chair. She looked at Dad. "Give me the entire story. I just want to know why."

He nodded and started to tell her everything she told me.

Eres grabbed my hips and twisted me to the side so he could see. "You're not allowed to get up." He whispered.

I elbowed him in the ribs. "My entire family is in this room," I mumbled back.

He winced. "Which is why you're not allowed to get up."

I looked back at him. Kovi and Dad seemed distracted. "Seriously?"

"Hi, you sat on my lap with no warning. I don't know what you expected." He wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Think of your mother, or something," I muttered.

...
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