Chapter 36
Quinn climbed off the boat, openly studying this stranger that was her nephew. Domhall’s voice interrupted her analysis.
“Neeren, may I present Quinn, your aunt. Quinn this is Neeren, King of the Parthen and your nephew.”
She continued to stare at him. Found herself memorizing his face . . . just in case. She wanted to say something, but the words stuck somewhere in her chest. And then the young man, in front of his people, bowed to her before dropping to one knee.
“I have waited far too long to meet you. Mother has told me many stories about your youth. Thank you for protecting my sister for so many years. You forever have my loyalty and gratitude.” He grasped her hand and kissed it before rising.
Quinn squeezed her eyes shut a moment. He meant it, she realized, even if it was too practiced, to feel completely genuine. He was a man who understood perception and diplomacy. Still, she was willing to give it a try if he was. It was why she’d come. To meet her blood, the boy she'd never known.
That boy stood before her as still and silent as a piece of marble. He held his lean muscles deceptively taught. Bare feet peeked out from beneath tan slacks. She released the breath she hadn’t realized she held. Looked down at the hand still holding hers. Squeezed.
“Neeren, we have a lot of lost time to make up, don’t we? I’m sorry this happened to us. I have to admit I'm still in a bit of shock, but I can't wait to know you now and to build the relationship we should have always had.”
He reached out, trapped her in his arms for a bear hug that took her off her feet, and whispered in her ear, “Thank you for giving me the chance to be your nephew.”
He put her down slowly, took her hand, raised his voice so the rest of the assembled group could hear. “Come. I think it is time we all joined Mother and Alex at the house. They've been waiting most impatiently.”
Together they walked down the dock. A tribe of panthers followed. Quinn could see that Neeren was no fool. This was his kingdom and he would have his display of power mixed with his happy reunion.
It was in her nature to absorb all she saw and catalogue it for dissection later. She noticed animals watching them from the tree-line, with more along the edges of the cliffs above. The sun poured down on her as they climbed. Neeren easily matched his pace to hers. Seemed quite content to do so.
“We're almost there,” he said. “Alex was very excited to hear you were coming. So was Mother. You'll find she has changed much from the woman you knew.”
She recognized the subtle protective quality to his tone. “I suspect none of us are quite the same.”
He nodded, a slightly ironic smile on his lips. “Touché.”
Quinn decided the sizing up of each other was complete. It was time to be family. She linked her arm with his. “This is heaven.”
He clasped her arm with his other hand. “Indeed.”
As they reached the top of the cliff Quinn had her first good look at the estate. Every inch of his castle glistened in the light. And it was a castle, make no mistake. Hundreds of Parthen men and women stood waiting to greet them.
Alex stood in the centre of the group dressed in a violet silk sheath that clung to her curves and fell just below her knees. Her hair flew untamed, the ends burning in the sun. Quinn could see the fully formed flame tattoo wound around her flesh. It had only been a week, yet her niece stood before her fully evolved and more beautiful than she could have imagined.
Alex broke free of the group and ran to her.
“See, didn't I tell you everything would be okay,” Quinn said as she dashed away tears of joy.
“You did. Good thing I listened to you,” Alex replied. “My mother is here. Come on, you have to see her.”
Alex led her back to the group. Quinn searched for her warrior sister in the crowd. When Gray stepped forward she gaped at the vulnerable woman standing before her. Surely, this woman couldn't be Gray? Surely Neeren had been wrong? She couldn't have changed that much. This woman was cut from glass not born of earth. Her white hair held no light. Her shoulders held no strength. She was a delicate doll, not the fighter Quinn knew.
She offered her hand, “Hello, Quinn. Thank you for protecting Alexedria and for collecting the information for father to help us. You didn't have too. But I thank you for being there when I couldn't be.”
Quinn stared at her for a minute longer then reached out and slapped her across the face. “Are you kidding me. That’s the hello I get? Who the fuck do you think you are, and where is my sister?”
Her sister responded by hurling herself at Quinn. By swearing and hitting her. Quinn took it all. Held nothing back in response. Years of anger, frustration, and loss exploded out of her, directed at the only other person on the planet who could take it all and forgive—a sister.
Domhall restrained Alex. Neeren held his hand up to his people to stop any of them from interfering.
Quinn met her sister punch for punch, sob for sob. Until, slowly the anger that had been rotting in her gut turned to something else. Grief, confusion, curiosity. Gratitude that her sister lived. She wiped the tears off Gray’s face. Held her tightly and stared into her eyes. The pain and loss was obvious for anyone to see.
“Don’t you ever do that to me again.”
“I swear. Never again,” Gray replied.
Eventually, they used each other to get up, pushing each other to the ground while standing. They were covered in sand and grass.
“Look at what you did to my dress,” Gray scolded as she shot her a mischievous look.
“Thank God. Since when did you start dressing like a dead doll anyway? Now take me to your closet so I can throw everything out.”
They ignored everyone and made their way into the castle arm and arm, letting the rest follow at their own pace.