22. Re
Reunion
Sorcha no longer looked human. When she had first unleashed her power, she had begun to change.
Her eyes first, the green flecks had still clung to them, as if refusing to fully fade but now the green was gone.
Her irises swirled with liquid gold and crimson twisting together in a constant, hypnotic rhythm, like a fire burning just beneath the surface.
Her hair had carried the clash of colors since the first appearance of her power, but now It wasn’t just color.
It was alive. Streaks of gold melted through the red, shimmering.
She looked otherworldly now, completely.
Her slightly pointed ears peeked through the waves of her hair, now reaching past her torso.
Nothing about her resembled the mortal girl who had entered this place.
She looked stronger not just in presence, but physically.
The muscles in her arms, shoulders, and hands were more defined.
Not dramatically altered, but enough that the difference was clear.
Something had changed. Not enough to make her unrecognizable, but enough that they noticed.
Sorcha saw them and stood from the bed, a radiant smile lighting up her face. “I’ve never been happier to see you two in my life,” she chuckled.
They didn’t answer immediately. Both were still staring, confused, wanting to ask questions, glancing at each other before looking back at Sorcha. But then, a quiet understanding passed between them. Without a word, they smiled back and stepped forward.
Maelan was the first to break the silence, wrapping his arms around her. “And how is my queen feeling?"
Sorcha hugged him tightly, breathing in the familiar scent of honey and cinnamon.
Their arms dropped, and she turned to Kyron, who stood just behind Maelan, watching her closely. “You look like you’re doing much better.” Her eyes went to his arm, then she stepped past Maelan, pulling Kyron into an embrace as well. “Thanks to you both, I’m alive.”
Tears pricked her eyes, her voice trembling.
Kyron held her tightly before finally pulling away. “Can you walk?” His gaze followed her every movement.
Sorcha glanced between them, then down at herself, taking in the way she felt lighter, stronger, different. She took a slow step, then another, walking the room to test herself.
“I feel…” she stopped, the smile dropping from her face. Her eyes were blank for a moment, glazed over, like she was somewhere else. “I still ache in places...” She stood quiet, far away from her body, lost in her thoughts. Her hand hovered over his chest.
Outside, the sun was fading, the sky deepening into an impossible shade of violet as night crept in.
Maelan broke the silence. “ Do you want to take a walk?”
Sorcha hesitated before sitting on the chair near the bed, her voice unsteady. “Can we wait a minute? I have questions. I need to know…” She swallowed hard, palms damp with sweat. Shifting in her seat, she glanced between Kyron and Maelan, who waited silently. “Was Riona there? I swear I saw her.”
“She was there, Sorcha,” Kyron interrupted, his face paler than before.
He knelt before her, his gaze locking onto hers. “She was there,” he repeated, softer this time, more cautious. “She helped Vaelric escape.” His voice trailed off.
Sorcha shot to her feet, the chair clattering to the ground behind her. “No.” She shook her head violently. “She would never do that. I… I…” Her voice cracked. She started pacing, her breaths uneven.
Kyron moved to approach her, but Maelan’s hand landed on his shoulder.
“Let me,” he murmured.
Maelan carefully stepped in front of her, his gaze steady as he reached up, brushing away a stray tear that had slipped down her cheek.
“We don’t know how or why she was there,” he said gently. “We don’t even know if she was there of her own free will…” He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, his touch light. “Let’s not jump to conclusions just yet.”
Sorcha nodded, trying to calm her breathing, trying to make sense of it all. “And Vaelric?” she asked, her voice fierce, desperate.
“Your… your brother is alive. He was alive when they escaped but again, we don’t know for sure, Sorcha.”
“He is.” She cut him off. “I feel it. He looks so much like my mother.” Her voice was breaking.
Her mother. Maelan wanted desperately to tell her what he now knew. His eyes darted to Kyron, who looked like he was holding his breath.
“We’ll figure this all out,” Maelan said finally. “We’ll get the answers in time. But for now, let’s clear our heads, hmm?”
Sorcha looked between them both, then exhaled. “Okay.”
The Tuatha nodded in quiet acknowledgment as they stepped outside.
Sorcha took a moment to thank each of them as she passed.
She stretched her arms, rolling her shoulders as if shaking off the weight of confinement, exhaling deeply.
Kyron gestured toward a small alcove nestled on the outskirts of town.
Billows of smoke rose from a chimney in the distance, the sounds of music playing on the breeze.
“It’s a way from the Tuatha, it’s mostly travelers and outsiders like me.” Kyron said as he pointed to the building.
Sorcha let out a breath, stretching her arms as she walked. “Wait, what? I thought- ”
Kyron’s expression didn’t shift, but Maelan caught the flicker of anger in his eyes.
Stepping ahead to keep pace, Maelan turned to Sorcha. “Kyron is like you,” he said smoothly. “Half mortal, half god. His father was mortal.” He moved ahead now, leading the way with a smirk. “In any case, I prefer the company of outcasts.”
Curiosity tugged at the edges of Sorcha’s thoughts, but before she could press further, Kyron motioned them along.
“Well then,” she said, quickening her step. “Let’s go.”
The streets were quiet as they walked, the soft glow of floating lanterns flickering against the glass windows of the buildings.
Sorcha’s body was healed, she should have felt fine, but an unease lingered, pressing down on her.
She took another step, then stopped when a flicker of movement caught her eye.
Her gaze drifted toward the window, and she froze.
The breath she pulled in caught halfway, barely reaching her lungs.
She’d hardly reconciled any of it-everything in the veil.
The near deaths. The weight of her parents’ truth, Vaelric.
It was Vaelric’s smile that slipped back into her mind like a splinter.
She could feel the echo of the blade, the ghost of where it had pierced her skin, of what he left behind, that kiss of death burning into her.
Riona’s face bled through the haze. She looked terrified.
But why was she with him? Why did it feel like betrayal?
Heat bloomed under her skin. She could see the shimmer of light and fire curling from her hands, crawling up her arms. Behind her, Kyron and Maelan halted.
One of them called her name. Her thoughts pulled her deeper.
She was sinking again—That same weightless, frozen feeling she’d known since the banshee.
Since the veil. Since she’d started walking through her own life like a shadow.
She was unraveling, silent and invisible, in front of them all.
She didn’t want to. She didn’t want to come undone here.
Not now, not like this. The spiral clutched tighter inside her, twisting hard until a hand pressed lightly against her back.
She didn’t need to look, she knew it was Maelan.
He didn’t speak, he just stood there. She turned to him and his met her eyes, brushing his thumb along her cheek, and nodded.
It was all she needed. All that kept her from crumbling.
He then squeezed her hand and turned towards Kyron, leading her towards the alcove.
Inside that little alcove, they ate in silence.
The little alcove held only a handful of others, their conversations mingling in the air, scents of rosemary, cinnamon, and an odd scent she couldn’t quite name wafting through the space.
The warmth was comforting, the soft glow of lanterns flickering overhead, casting golden light against the dark wood.
The candles on the tables held Sorcha’s attention as the flames danced, their movements hypnotic in the quiet.
She was lost in thought when the barmbrack arrived. When she lifted a piece to her lips, the scent of dried fruit soaked in tea, brown sugar, and spice filled her senses, and suddenly, her eyes burned with unshed tears. She missed home. The ache was deep, almost suffocating.
She missed the Circle, her friends, the little tea shop in Meadowrun, the way light refracted off her crystal tea pot creating rainbows.
Eirin… all the things that reminded her of who she was or who she used to be.
For the first time in a long while, she wondered if she would ever be able to go home again.
And if she did would it still be the same?
As they finished their meal, silence sat heavy between.
It was uncomfortable, the tension so thick that Maelan was fiddling with his utensils, Sorcha pushed food around her plate and Kyron was lost in thought.
It was Kyron who finally broke the silence with mentioning that they could stay with his mother or his aunts, Grainne and Fenne, if they wished, and in the morning, they would meet with the Tuatha council.
Sorcha whipped her head up at the mention of their names. “Excuse me, did you just say your aunts were Grainne and Fenne?”
A long pause stretched between them before she practically yelled, “Your mother is Aine!”
Kyron let out a slow sigh, looking slightly annoyed by the outburst. Kyron opened his mouth to respond, but Sorcha wasn’t finished.
“Your mother is the goddess of summer and love? Kyron?! And your aunts just so happen to be the most beautiful women in all of history. Oh yes, hello, goddess! Just dropping in after having your son almost killed on multiple occasions!” Her hands waved wildly as she turned to Maelan.
“And you!” She pointed an accusatory finger.
“You just met her and didn’t say anything? ”
Maelan chuckled. “Yes, I was just as stunned, actually. And yes, Kyron’s mother is gorgeous.” He threw Kyron a smirk and a wink.
Kyron shot him a glare. “Don’t even think about it, Maelan. My mother's off limits.”
Maelan leaned back, arms crossed. “What, you don’t want a new father?”
Sorcha shot them both a look that could kill. “I’m being serious, Maelan.”
Maelan met her stare without hesitation. “So was I.”
Kyron’s fist connected with Maelan’s arm. Maelan hit him back. Within seconds, it turned into a childish back and forth, neither willing to back down until they were both cursing. Sorcha watched in disbelief as they dissolved into full-blown hysteria, punching each other between gasps for air.
She tried to keep a straight face, but they were a disaster. Maelan had doubled over, tears in his eyes, while Kyron shoved him hard enough to tip him back in his chair and himself.
Thud. Thud.
Maelan hit the floor, wheezing, his face red from laughing so hard.
Kyron was just as bad, still sprawled on the ground, his laughter echoing through the cafe.
Sorcha had no idea what to do with these two.
And then, she couldn’t help it. She started laughing.
Other patrons in the little cafe turned to stare, whispering to one another, but none of them cared.
They all needed this moment. And Sorcha let herself take it all in.