CHAPTER ELEVEN #2
I sigh. “It is, but I don’t know how he’s going to handle the news about his sister.
”Talyn is no longer under the influence of his father and the Soul Stone, so his emotions are more stable.
But this news will be devastating to hear either way, although in a way they will always be siblings because family is more than just blood. It’s a choice.
I’M WAITING OUTSIDE Talyn’s door wanting to ambush him before the meeting. I’ve decided to talk with him away from the others, maybe take a walk or something. Killian of course is around somewhere.
Nero nuzzles my cheek. “Did you want me to take off or stick around?”
“Stick around. I could use my emotional support eyeball-snatcher,” I tease.
He puffs up his chest and flutters his wings. “Always, Rav.”
The door to Talyn’s room swings open, and I push off the wall and turn toward him. He looks much better after showering a week’s worth of grime off and a fresh change of clothes. The side of his scalp is freshly shaved, letting the intricate dragon tattoos appear once again.
His brows raise. “Ravina. What are you doing here?”
I match his brow raise with my own. “I wanted to talk in private before we get to the war room to fill you in on everything else.”
“Oh?”
I blow out a breath and gesture with a tilt of my head for him to follow me away from his room. “I talked to my mother after we arrived back here, and I discovered something.”
“Discovered what?”
I stop in the middle of a garden and sit on a secluded bench, patting the seat beside me.
I discovered this quaint little courtyard not long ago—or should I say, ‘rediscovered’.
I remember spending a lot of time with Aemon here as a fledgling when I would visit.
There’s something about the floral scent that calms me.
Poor Jesper, though, can’t step foot in here without his allergies flaring up.
I peer up at Tal and his brow is furrow, and I unintentionally stall. Why is this so hard? Maybe I should just rip it off like a bandaid. I take a deep breath. “Apparently Cynder is not your blood-related sibling. She’s mine.”
He shakes his head vehemently. “That’s not possible; my mother was pregnant. I remember…”
So I tell him everything my mother told me.
About how his father’s unhealthy obsession with my mother grew into the night everything burned.
That my mother was pregnant with Cynder and was planning to tell my fathers.
How I suspect that Cynder has Gallalaus magick because of the dream we shared together.
How his mother died from giving birth to him, and that Craven must have used the Soul Stone to create false memories of his mother growing up.
He collapses onto the bench beside me. “Does Cyn know?”
I shake my head. “No, I wanted to tell you first before I went to her. She looks so much like my mother,” I whisper. “I still haven’t wrapped my head around it.”
“How did I not see this sooner?” His voice breaks and for the first time I’m reminded of the fledgling I grew up around.
Not the imposing male with an attitude who won’t take any shit, but the young one who used to rely on me when things got rough.
“How long has he been screwing with my memories? How much more of my life is a lie!?”
“I don’t think anyone would have realized.
Your father plays games of secrets and lies where death and destruction is the prize,” I tell him gently.
“Plus, at least I know she was as safe as possible with you. You know I always wanted a younger sister. And in a way, she will always be your sister, even if not by blood, then as chosen family. And if we ever—” I cut myself off, not ready to talk about the mate bond between us when he’s figuring things out for himself.
A watery laugh escapes him as he fights back tears. “Then you wouldn’t have needed us for your tea parties. Fates, without you, I would have never been able to show Cynder what a tea party was like.”
I stare at him wide-eyed as his words sink in. “Wait, you gave her a tea party?”
“Showed her how to set them up exactly like you showed me.” He smiles bitterly. “Before my father became determined to keep us as separated as possible. Millie and the other brownies took care of her while my father had me training for Phixmery.”
“Oh.”
He sighs, throwing his head back. “Those are her stories to tell. Would you mind if I was there when you told her?”
“Of course,” I state. “I figured you would want to be.”
He nods. “Thanks.”
Without another word he gets up and leaves me sitting alone, and I watch as he vanishes back inside. Well, that went better than I expected.
Nero titters. “I almost expected him to draw his sword and demand you fight for Cynder or something.”
Wouldn’t that have been something. A moment later I see a larger shadow follow down the hall after him. Seems as if Killian hasn’t given up yet.
“Well, it’s best we get to the war room and get today’s stats,” I tell Nero, but my heart is still with Tal and the news I had to give him.
Even with that, I still have duties to perform, and I’ve had enough of a break.
We have an advantage with the chunk of Soul Stone hidden here.
Now we wait and we plan, then hopefully take action and save the realm from Talyn’s bastard father. All in a day’s work, I suppose.