The way they look at each other is pure love. With a gentle touch on each other’s arms, a brush of hair; I memorise every imperfection of their faces, ingraining it in my mind.
Most of the clippings focused on the murder of the royal family. Some describe attacks from mercenaries in towns allover Linorah. A few paintings of cliffsides, islands, and forests. None of that means anything to me.
“Did she tell you about the attack?” I ask Mum.
Mum shakes her head. “No, only that we had to keep you safe. Dad buried her under a large ash tree. He carved it with the Tanith marking—the four-pointed star on your back. I laid a pink and coral bouquet of dahlias on her grave. It wasn’t much, but the night had turned cold, we couldn’t stay any longer, not with you being as little as you were.”
Myles places his hand over mine, squeezing it tightly. “Andi, I…” He starts but can’t find the words. I don’t really know what words would help, either, if any.
Nothing makes this okay.
We sit in silence for the longest time before Elana runs towards me, throwing her arms over my shoulders, her face red and blotchy from crying.
Elana sobs into me, “You’ll always be my sister, I don’t care what anyone says.”
In my grief, I never thought of how this would affect Elana, my sweet, annoying little sister. I always teased that she was adopted when she was being particularly irritating. Joke's on me.
I pull her off me, to cup her face, giving a half smile. “Oh, El, of course I’m still your sister, you can’t get rid of me that easily.”
Her eyes close, nodding. I pull her back in for a hug. Perching on the edge of my chair, she hooks her arm through mine. A heavy silence hangs in the air, matching mum’s solemn expression, but I avert my gaze.
Wyatt breaks the stillness, “Elana, come on, Andi and your mum need a minute.” He takes her hand and pulls her towards the door. Elana reluctantly goes with him.
Myles follows them outside, with a squeeze of my shoulder.
“I am so sorry. This is not how we wanted you to find out. We… wanted to tell you, but after Dad, I couldn’t find the right words. Please, say something. Yell at me. Please,” Mum begs, walking towards me but dismisses the idea when I turn away from her. She slips into a dining chair instead.
“I don’t know what to say,” I mumble. Standing, I pace across the already worn carpet. Anger seeps through every pore in my body. “I am trying to wrap my head around it, but it’s too much.” My hands emit a white flame. It swirls around my arms, expanding with my anger. I hold my breath, urging it to fade.
“You both lied to me, my whole life,” my voice breaks, “and I understand why you did it, but I still wish you had told me. Trusted me with the truth. Didn’t I deserve that?”
Mum watches me but says nothing, lowering her chin as tears fall down her face.
“After finding Ed… your mother, dying, pleading for us to take you. How could we not do everything in our power to protect you? We don’t know what this thing is capable of, but the damage that has already been done to your… biological family is terrifying.”
Mum says through gritted teeth, her jaw rigid, “The thought of you being found was inconceivable; we would not let it happen.” She wipes away her tears as she attempts to walk towards me, and I flinch.
A fist squeezes my heart with a crushing tightness in my chest. The air is thin, and each breath is difficult.
Mum lets out a sigh. “I don’t expect you to forgive me, us. But please know, we did what we thought was right. Or at least what we believed to be the best thing for you.”
She steps towards me again. I don’t withdraw this time, I cradle myself, holding myself together.
“I am sorry,” Mum says, wrapping her arms around me. Her top dampens with my tears.
“Okay. But I need some time.” Turning my back on her, I use my sleeve to wipe the tears, trying to compose myself before I head out the door.
“Andi, wait.” She walks to the bookcase, from a drawer she lifts out my necklace. “It was still a present from your dad. You don’t have to wear it, I’m not going to push you, but Dad would still like you to have it.”
A feeling of trepidation swallows me up, stopping me from reaching for the necklace. Mum takes my hand and gently places it in my palm. I examine it as I retreat out of the door, turning to see Wyatt and Myles sitting on the garden wall.
I walk down the path to them; this whole day has taken every ounce of energy I have. I lean against the wall, letting out a breath, Myles rests an arm over my shoulder, kissing my forehead.
Wyatt jumps off the wall and pulls me into a hug. “So, are we going by Andi or Andrina now?” he says as he pulls away from me slightly. He breaks out into a smirk and a bow. “OrYour Highness.”
Chapter Eight
Andi