Page 88 of Shadow Kissed
“He sure is handsome.”
“Breela! You’re a married woman,” I chastise.
She laughs and knocks her hip into mine. “I might be married, but that doesn’t mean I’m blind and that is one mighty fine man. Shadows or not.”
My eyes still linger on where he left. “He’s not as bad as the rumours say he is. Anyway!” I clap my hands together. “I hope the twins are back soon. I don’t want to lose another minute of my time here with them.”
No sooner have the words left my mouth when the front door opens and my two brothers’ step into the house.
“Corym, Elian!” I rush towards them. They barely have time to register who is calling them before I sweep them up into my arms.
“Reya! You’re here! Elian, Reya’s here!” Corym shouts delightedly, squeezing me just as hard as I'm squeezing him.
“I can see that. I’m not blind,” Elian grumbles before he turns a huge beaming smile my way and reciprocates my hug. “We’ve missed you.”
I lean back so I can inspect them both, and I playfully ruffle Elian’s hair. “I have missed you both, too. So much. Ah, it is good to see you both.”
"I thought you couldn’t come home," Corym asks as we all pull apart.
I nod my head. “So did I, but it turns out the Lord Commander has some semblance of a heart, and he took pity on me after he beat me in combat class today.”
Corym’s eyes light up. “You have combat classes? And you’ve fought against the commander, and you lived to tell the tale.” He looks impressed.
I wrinkle my nose. “It was only with wooden weapons. Shame, I’d have liked to have scarred up his pretty face.”
My brothers laugh at my confession, and I can’t help myself, I pull them both in for another hug. “Mother Crystal, I want to hold you tight and never let go.”
Seeing them in the flesh gives me a greater level of assurance than the weekly calls ever could. To touch them and see that they are still smiling means more than anything to me.
“How are you both?” I ask them. “I know you must miss Mother terribly.”
The boys are quiet. “We miss you both and we miss our house,” Corym says as he places his hand over mine. “But we’re proud of you, sister.”
I hate this whole situation. I hate that I am not here every day to tuck them into bed and get them up for school. I’m missing out on being there for them because of the Shadow Realm.
“You know I’d have stayed if I could.”
Elian slouches his shoulders with a heavy sigh and Breela comes over and reminds them I am doing our village a great service and how I will ensure that the town continues to have crop and clean water to drink.
“What’s it like in Shadow Valley? I want to hear all about it,” Elian asks, and I suggest we sit down ready for tea whilst I answer their questions.
Time passes by too soon. I tell them all about Shadow Valley and my classes and they laugh when I tell them how much I hate crochet and dance class. They all, of course, ask after Arkynn and I tell them he is doing them proud as a soldier. I wonder what they would say if they knew he was now a member of the rebellion.
The sharp knock on the back door signals that my time is up. I know I shouldn’t complain. I am getting far more than theother girls at the mansion are and two hours with my brothers is far better than nothing.
Raegal enters the house and pauses when he takes in us all sitting around the kitchen table, our bellies full and our hearts full of laughter. Something like longing briefly crosses his face before his signature brooding expression is back in place.
“I’m afraid it is time to go.”
I nod my head and glance over at my brothers. I commit the image of them into my brain, wanting to treasure this moment and reflect on it when I am miles away and trapped in Shadow Valley. I wrap my arms around their shoulders as they sit on either side of me and kiss the top of their heads. “Now you continue being good boys for Breela and Arik, and watch out for each other, okay?”
“We will and you make sure you beat the Lord Commander the next time you fight him,” Elian tells me, glancing over at Raegal and grinning.
Raegal arches a brow at me and smirks. “She can try.”
Breela comes over and pulls me into a farewell hug and offers me a dish covered with a cloth. “Wrenbry pie, to remind you of home.”
I take the pie from her and thank her and Arik for everything they are doing for my brothers, then I make my way over to Raegal, who has remained waiting over by the door. I take one last look at my brothers and wave farewell before we head outside into the evening sun. We walk in silence to my childhood home as I battle with the waves of thought and emotions rushing over me.