LIRA
LIRA STOOD AT the base of Rhymore, the cool kiss of the night air slowly dancing around her.
She’d always loved Adhiran nights, the peace that came with each flicker of the stars far beyond the mountaintop. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the mountainside, relieved as Andi sent her and the girls a com.
Found him. See you at Revalia.
Lon had helped her find him, then. Good. The two Arcardians could talk more, wade through their tangled webs and hopefully enjoy the festival tonight.
Revalia, Lira thought, still in awe that they were here on Adhira at the same time as the festival. Though it looked as if she was going to be late to the festivities.
Even on board the Marauder, with its limited supplies, Breck and Gilly took ages to prepare for social events. But here, with an entire planet full of beauty supplies they could get their hands on?
Your silent pacing will be our demise, Gilly had hissed at Lira back in the girls’ temporary quarters, right after she’d thrown a moss pillow at Lira’s face. You heard the kid, Breck had said as she winked apologetically, slapped Lira’s behind and shoved her out of the room.
Lira herself had left the mountain fortress in a simple sand-shaded dress and with a pair of twisting sandals on her feet. Now she was fairly certain that she’d be waiting here for her friends forever.
But that was fine with her.
She couldn’t help but smile as she watched the continuous flow of people exiting Rhymore. Each year, Revalia took place in a different quadrant of the planet, the attire changing to suit the location.
Tonight, it would be in the Sands of Bailet. Already, massive cargo wagons, pulled by Albatusks with their many curling and hissing tongues, were carting citizens from Rhymore toward Bailet.
In the moonlight overhead, Lira could see the winged outlines of creatures from the rainforest taking their riders toward the desert. She could hear the distant, tolling whine of Sky Whales, soaring from the Endless Sea with hundreds on their backs.
“I thought you weren’t one for parties.”
Lira glanced sideways as a warm arm sidled up against hers, and with it a familiar musky scent that reminded her of the mountain tunnels.
“And I thought you were supposed to be guarding Andi,” Lira said to her brother.
“She’s fine out there. I have a feeling whatever creatures may come her way would be afraid of her.” Lon grinned and crossed his arms. Though he wore a pair of loose black pants, the rest of him was bare. Muscles and a sculpted chest were out in full view of the people who passed by in their festival attire, some whispering or giggling to each other as they tried to catch Lon’s eye. “And besides, every princess needs an escort to the ball. I figured, who better than your trustworthy, protective brother?”
Lira gave him a glare worthy of Andi. “I’m not a princess.”
“Technically, you are,” Lon said.
Lira rolled her eyes. “And this isn’t a ball.” She shoved away from the mountainside as two familiar forms finally came through the exit doors. Breck and Gilly, at last ready to take on the night, and fully decked out in Adhira’s best gowns. Lira turned back to her twin. “And even if it were a ball, who says I’d want to attend on my brother’s arm?”
“Come on, little bug,” Lon said in a wheedling tone. “I know you’re desperate to perform the dance we learned for our Efflorescence Ceremony. If I remember correctly, those feet of yours could stomp for days.”
She laughed, recalling the countless hours of lessons. The horror of having to stand in public, before hundreds of eyes, and perform. With her brother, of all people. How Andi used to dance for fun, Lira would never understand.
It was the torture of all tortures.
A roar sounded in the night, followed by a series of hisses, as another transport wagon arrived, massive, towering wooden wheels squeaking as the Albatusk came to a stop.
“That’s our ride,” Lon said. “Magnificent night, isn’t it?”
Lira wasn’t listening.
She had turned back to watch Breck and Gilly emerge from the mountainside, looking so alive. Their faces were luminous with smiles and laughter. Gilly’s hair was elegantly braided on top of her head. Breck’s handiwork, no doubt. And Breck’s eyes, the lids painted to look like a desert sunset, were completely mesmerizing.
Revalia was a night for celebration. A time to lose oneself in the joy that came from being on a planet dedicated to harmonious peace.
Lira was home. Her brother was at her side. Her aunt had forgiven her, more or less, for the crash landing. She should feel as light as the wind that tickled her cheeks and tugged at her loose tan gown.
She should feel as jubilant as everyone else around her.
But as Lira looked at Breck and Gilly racing toward her and thought of Andi finally facing her demons when she’d confronted Valen and when spilled her thoughts to the girls about Dex...
Her heart fractured a little more.
All she could think of was the image of the starship with her name above it, the promise that she could stay here and live a life where she was always meant to be.
“Lir?” Lon asked. He pointed toward the transport, which was nearly full as everyone piled on. “Time to go.”
Lira nodded.
She tucked her arm into her brother’s, then reached out the other to take Breck’s hand as she and Gilly finally made it to them.
“Ladies,” Lon said, smiling at Breck and Gilly. “The desert awaits us.”
Together, the four of them walked to the transport, joining the crowd. Lon talked to Breck and Gilly, explaining how the festival would go, telling them how lucky they were to be here on Adhira’s most exuberant night.
All the while, even as they climbed onto the transport, even as the wheels began to move, as the pathway toward the Sands of Bailet opened wide and Lira could see, far down the hillside, the expanse of glittering red sand pocked with dancers already twirling in the firelight...
All the while, her heart whispered, You can’t have two families. Her mind hissed, You can’t have two lives.
She didn’t know which she should choose.
Her own flesh and blood or the heart-deep bonds she’d formed with these girls over the past three years.
The clock was ticking, moving toward a decision. If she rejected Alara’s offer...it would never come again.
“It’s time to let loose,” Breck said. “Lir, you look like you’ve just puked up a pound of Moon Chew.”
“Lira doesn’t puke,” Gilly said.
“That’s ridiculous. Everyone pukes,” Breck added.
“I’ve never seen her do it. And I spy on her, like, all the time.”
Lon chuckled beside Lira. “I see it,” he whispered. “What draws you to this crew.” He lowered his voice even more. “Whatever you decide, Lira...I will still love you.”
An explosion rocked the night. A trail of fire spread into the sky, illuminating it bright pink. Sparkling like a falling star.
“I do so love explosives,” Gilly sighed, staring up as the rest of the show began.
Lira smiled, rolled back her shoulders and shoved the choice she had to make down deep.
She wouldn’t decide tonight.
Tomorrow, perhaps. She’d sit down with Andi and the girls, tell them what she’d been hiding.
For now, she settled into the warmth of her brother on one side, Breck and Gilly on the other, and let the glittering sky call her forth into the promise of a perfect, thoughtless night.