even

 

I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun exerting myself. Not using my powers but relying on my body and my instincts alone to fight. I circle, my eyes on Luna as she mirrors my actions. The girl fights well with her dual blades. Her footwork is sloppy, but she has a lot of raw potential, I think if she had the chance to train, she could be a great warrior.

I notice as she feigns left before coming at me with her right hand. I match her swing for swing, pushing her to think harder. Faster. Smarter. Before going in for the kill shot.

She lays stunned on the floor from her swift fall as I took her feet from under her before laying the tip of my blade at her throat. I wink at her and watch as her blush creeps up before putting out my hand and helping her back to her feet. A slow clap sounds from the edges where Dimitri stands.

“You fight well, Luna,” he praises her in the same way he used to when he taught me. “You have some tells, but once you get them nailed down, and strengthen your upper body you will be a real threat.”

“Thank you, sir,” she smiles, bowing slightly as she would at the Academy.

“He’s not wrong, Luna. I’d love to help you train personally, but I have a feeling that the next few months might be a bit busy for me. However, I do know of some excellent warriors that I’m sure wouldn’t mind taking some time out, if you’re willing to spend some of your free time doing extra training?” I say, testing her resolve, seeing how much she actually wants this.

She nods eagerly. “I would love that. Thank you, Princess, and thank you for today. Fighting with you has taught me so much already. Everything you shared, the small tips on my stance, I feel better already than I did this morning.”

“I’m glad I could help, unfortunately I believe I’m needed back in the Palace,” I tell her, seeing Dante hovering on the edges on the field, not wanting to interrupt. He knows how much I was looking forward to today, and my heart skips a little, knowing that he doesn’t want to bring down my day. “Dimitri will see to it you get back to the Academy safely, but I will be in touch about that extra training. And make sure you come and see me when you graduate.” I say before embracing her lightly.

“Thank you, Your Highness. I am more grateful than you know.”

“You are more than welcome, Luna. Thank you for today.” I say to her before saying my goodbyes to her and Dimitri and turning my attention to Dante.

“Everything okay?” I ask and he squirms a little.

“You have a message from House Bane. Your presence is requested there.” He tells me and I feel all of the peace and happiness I tried to keep in my grasp just moments ago, scurry away.

“Thank you,” I say, taking a deep breath. No need to shoot the messenger. I look down and decide not to change. Who knows, being prepared for a fight there might be necessary. I’ve not been there in what feels like forever. I let loose my wings, and smile a little at the awe on Dante’s face, I forget he hasn’t seen them much. They’re not exactly regal attire.

“I’ll be back soon, okay? We should do something later. Us and Sophie. A picnic maybe? In our old spot,” I suggest and the smile he gives me in return warms my heart, giving back a little piece of the peace I felt a few moments ago.

I kiss him gently on the cheek before taking flight. House Bane appears to quickly in my sight line, and I see Kaden waiting for me in the grounds at the back on the house.

“It seems like a lifetime ago you were teaching me how to master this,” I call out to him as I land gently.

“And yet, it was what? A year ago?”

“About that,” I shrug. Truth be told I can’t even really remember how long ago it was. It feels like an entire different life. “Why was I summoned here anyway?”

He looks a little shifty, not quite meeting my eye.

“Kaden?”

“Its Olivia, she wants to talk to you.”

“Liv is still here?” I ask, shocked as he nods. I thought she’d have left and crawled back into a hole by now. “And why do I want to speak to her?”

“You probably don’t, but how can you truly move forward without resolving everything in your past?”

“I don’t know Kaden, but I don’t think now is exactly the right time. It might have escaped you, but I have a lot on.”

“And that is exactly why now. Addie, you are literally trying to rewrite history. Change the world as we know it. Maybe you need to take a step back a minute.”

“What exactly do you mean by that? Do you think I’m wrong in what I’m doing?” I falter. No-one who knows me has challenged my actions, and while I don’t think I’m above the law, I didn’t think Kaden of all people would question me.

“I didn’t say that Addie, but think about what you’re doing right now. I’m not saying its right or wrong. But you had a plan. You had a new path, even if I wasn’t happy with who you were walking it with, I accepted that it was the best thing for you. The right thing. And then my brother blows up both our worlds all over again, and you rush to undo everything you built. Everything you achieved. If you do this, it could cause chaos in our world. It would tip the scales, and I can’t say for certain in what way. But can you tell me, without any doubt in your heart or your mind, that you know that what you are doing is the right thing?”

“Of course I can’t, Kaden. But I also know that I want to at least have the option of what my future holds. Eolande took that from me. Xander took that from me. All I’m asking is to have a choice. Is that really so much to ask?” I counter, and he sighs.

“It’s not. You know that regardless of what happens, I am always on your side, Addie. Always. Even against my brother.” He says, brushing his thumb across my cheek hovering too close for just a second too long before stepping back and breaking whatever moment that was.

“You should go inside and speak to, Olivia. I won’t make you, but I think it would be good for you.”

 

***

 

“So how was your visit to House Bane?” Dante asks me as we settle by the river, Sophie is paddling in the water with Michael, and her laughter settles my heart.

“It was… Informative?” I sigh, and he takes my hand and squeezes. “Liv wanted to see me, she wanted to apologise to me for everything. For the parts, she played in my capture and torture when Cole had me. It was strange. She’s still the girl I grew up protecting, that’s who I see when I look at her. But when I take a step back, she’s one of the people who hurt me the most.”

“The ones we love, usually are.” He offers supportively.

“I know. I just, I don’t think I’m ready to forgive her yet. So much has happened since then, but I’ve not really had time to forgive her in my heart.”

“I can understand that. But maybe, just maybe, if she hadn’t done what she did you wouldn’t be here right now with Sophie and I.”

“Maybe. She told me all sorts of stuff, about what they’re doing now to find my mother, how her and Logan are joining the hunt. It was just so surreal.”

“Maybe now you have some closure on the past, the future won’t seem so murky?” He says and I laugh.

“Sorry,” I tell him. “Kaden said something similar, and I never would have put you two on the same wavelength.”

“We both love you. You’re a force to be reckoned with Addie.”

“I love you too, Dante. But you’re right, we do need to start thinking about the future. If the bond isn’t broken. What our plans might be. There’s so much horror and sadness in this world. We’re all so separate.”

“What I want, is to support you and your dreams, in the best possible way. Every good King knows his place is at his Queens side.”

“Thank you, Dante. You always seem to know the right thing to say.”

“I try,” he says with a wink. “Now how about we go show this little munchkin how much fun you can really have paddling in that river.”

***

 

“Addie!!!” Rose squeals, I shake my head as I take in my surroundings. We’re back in the clearing I met her in the first time she walked in my dreams.

“How?” I ask, still in a sleepy haze.

“Well, you wally, I missed your face and since I can’t just pop up and interrupt the chaos that surrounds you, I wanted to check in and I figured this was better than nothing. Plus, I’m nosey.” I laugh at her and bring her in for a hug.

“I missed you too. It’s nice to see a friendly face for sure.”

“So!! Come on, tell me everything I’m missing out on while my parents refuse to let me leave.” She demands, as she drops onto a bed she’s made appear in our clearing, pulling me with her.

“I don’t even know where to begin,” I sigh before telling her everything. She looks back at me as I finish, the mix of admonishment and anger.

“Are you freaking kidding me with all of this right now? Why hasn’t Kellan just told the council to shove it up their old timer arses!”

“It’s some excuses around the bond, and the oath my mother made with Xander.”

“I’m still not finished being angry at him by the way. I don’t care about his crappy excuses. What he did was wrong. I could wring his bloody neck!”

“Awh Rose, you gone all Isles on me since you went home.” I chuckle, trying to diffuse the situation. She has every right to be angry at Xander, we all do, but right now I just need her to be my friend.

“Oh god, not you too. Benny doesn’t let up. His incessant teasing is beyond infuriating.” She says with a grin that tells me she loves it anyway. “I still don’t understand it though. The mainland is so different to here at the Isles. My parents dropped a lot of the old ways long ago. They wouldn’t care if I married Benny tomorrow, and he’s human! It just seems archaic.”

“It does, but I almost understand it. Change is big and scary. I’m new to their world, already such a big unknown. I just don’t want my life to be drawn up by other people if I can help it. I’ve given up so many freedoms already, just because of who I am. I want at least this choice to be my own.”

“And so it should be.” She says hugging me tightly. “We need to do this again soon, because apparently I need to wake up, and you need to get some decent sleep,” she says and I stifle a yawn.

“You might be right. Thank you for this. It's nice just speaking to someone who doesn’t want anything from me, except for me to be happy.”

“I’m always here for you, Addie. We’re soul sisters for life. You’re never getting rid of me.” She says before squeezing me again and fading away in front of my eyes. My eyelids feel heavy and I lay down as I wait to drift back to real life.