Page 156 of Aryn

Everyone’s attention shifts to it as Ronan parks and exits. He opens the sliding door, and Ailynor and her guards step out. Shock silences the chatter.

“And who are they?” Xeni demands.

Ailynor’s eyes snap to him, and understanding washes over her face as she takes him in. Never thought I’d be in the position to protect Xeni, but Aryn and I both tense as she steps closer, shoulders back with that authority she can’t shake.

Sovran hurries over, likely sensing the same potential conflict. “Allow me to introduce Ailynor.”

Xeni’s brows flick together as confused murmurs come from the others. Ailynor sizes him up, glancing over his horns and hair before locking onto his eyepatch. “You look like your father.”

Xeni’s chin lifts in challenge. “I’ve always thought I was much prettier, personally.”

Ailynor’s eyes narrow. “Arrogant, too.”

“I have my moments,” Xeni says with a shrug. “But if you’re stepping into my home to accuse me of being like my father, I’ll stop you right there. I’m not him.”

“Watch how you speak to the Vaelor,” Baelith sneers from behind her.

Elas openly gawks. “The Vaelor?”

Xeni sizes Ailynor up, brows lifting ever so slightly. “You’re the one who tried to overthrow him.”

She smirks. “And you’re the one who killed him.”

Xeni huffs. “Job well done to both of us, then, I suppose.”

Her expression shifts to one that’s almost amused, and my guard finally lowers. “Wait,” Elas says, shaking his head, “we can’t just breeze past this information. This is the Vaelor? The Rebel Queen?”

She glances his direction with a regal nod. “I never did shake that name. You must be Elas. My son has told me all about you.”

“Your… son?” Elas responds, eyes nearly bulging out of his head as he glances toward Ronan at her side.

Ronan nods, giving Elas a soft look that he shares with few others. “So much has happened. We have a lot to catch up on.”

“Wait,” Reyes interrupts, shaking his head. “You mean to tell me you are actually royalty? Like you aren’t already cocky enough without it? Oh dear gods, we’re never going to hear the end of this.”

Ronan fights a smile as a few chuckles spread through the group, but when he spots Nyx, his face turns serious. He steps closer, resting a gentle hand on Nyx’s shoulder.

“There is much to share,” Ronan says. “We met so many amazing people.”

“People?” Nyx asks curiously.

“Family from a lifetime ago. New friends who helped us along the way. Even some curious little Drüinae, just like you,” Ronan teases gently. “They waited a long time to hear what happened to you.”

Nyx’s eyes grow enormous, already shimmering with tears. “My family?”

“Your family,” Ronan confirms. “Your sister served the best mushroom stew any of us had ever eaten. Can I pass along the hug she asked me to give you?”

Nyx’s entire face crumbles as he crashes into Ronan’s arms, allowing Ronan to swallow him into an embrace so loving I damn near tear up myself. Reyes gives Ronan a watery smile, his fingers running through Nyx’s long green hair in silent comfort.

Everyone is suspiciously clearing their throats as we try to give them some privacy. Sakane glances around at the new faces. “You brought the damn queen back with you?”

“We did,” Aryn says. “She needed to see this for herself.”

“What’s the world like over there?” Sakane asks. “Was it an adventure?”

Memories replay in my mind—the battles and swordfights, the creatures and landscape trying to kill us at every turn. Hanging over the edge of the world with nothing but Aryn’s grip to keep me from falling.

“It was the adventure of a lifetime,” I finally say. “The world is incredible. It’s beautiful and terrifying, and the people are…”