fast and fought those feelings until they couldn’t be ignored.
And then, I told her about the battle, the blood, and how Kes died, at which point we hugged each other and cried. Not a single word was easy for her to hear. Not a single word was easy for me to speak, but I needed her to hear it from me.
She told me her story. How she was searching online job sites, mouse in hand, when she suddenly fell into an open corn field. There were a few people in the distance, all as confused as she was. She called out to them and they banded together, trudging through field after field and following a power line until they found a nearby town. They stayed together in a house and scavenged for food and water at a nearby convenience store, until the snake woman appeared and took her away from her friends and brought her to Xavier’s home. She’d always thought he was a nice kid before, but now called him the worst string of curse words I’d ever heard leave the woman’s lips.
I almost chastised her for her language to tease her, but she was completely justified and right about him.
She reached out to cup my face. “The moment I saw you in the room and heard Kes and Aries trying to break down the door, I knew we were all in deep trouble. I was so afraid. But look at you. I should have known you’d be okay, Larken. You’re so strong. So brave. And so beautiful.”
I was fairly certain she was still in shock, because she brushed my feathers like they were the prettiest things she’d ever seen. I was amazed she didn’t faint when she realized they were real and part of me now.
Then she clung to me tightly, refusing to let go. “You don’t have to go back to Libra. You can come live with me, Mom.” She nodded into my shoulder. “Kes is with Dad, back in my kingdom.” It sounded so weird, so surreal to call it that, but I had to get used to it sometime. Best to rip off the bandage.
“I need to see them both.” She pulled back, her dark blue eyes shimmering with tears. “He’s still my son,” her voice broke.
“And he’s still my brother.” I swallowed thickly. “We need to bury Kestrel, Mom.”
To finally give his body the rest his soul found so long ago.
Aries was standing outside the room in the hallway, waiting, still protective as ever as Mom and I exited. “Can I come back for my things later?” I asked him tentatively.
He inclined his head. “Of course. Or I can bring them to you.”
I nodded, unsure what else to say.
His fingers flexed and I caught the movement. He smiled. “Now whose ice blue eyes are keen?”
“They’re still blue?” I asked, thankful that at least that hadn’t changed.
He nodded. “Still my favorite color.”
His voice sounded… off.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
He swallowed. “Can I have a moment with you?”
Mom squeezed my hand and wandered into my room, gently closing the door to give us privacy. He reached for my waist, reeling me in close. I was grateful to feel his hands on my waist, to know I didn’t repulse him in my new form. “I didn’t know how you’d feel about me now.”
His brows furrowed. “I thought I made it clear how I feel about you.”
“Yes, but I’m different now. I’m…”
“Beautiful. Perfect. And exactly the same woman I fell in love with here.” He placed his hand over my heart and leaned in to gently kiss my lips. Then he lay his head against mine.
Flashes of scenes burst through my mind. I tasted his fear when he entered the room to see me standing amongst the Zodia as they picked sides. Terror when I tore into my flesh. Relief when Taurus took his last breath. His crushing sadness when Kes fell, and guilt when he realized he hadn’t reached him in time to stop his death. Overwhelming grief when I held his body in my lap. When my soul cried, his cried with it.
I felt his wonder when he first saw my wings.
I saw his anger abate and nothing but gratefulness swell within him for the simple fact I was alive. Alive and protected. As strong as them all. Forever.
I felt his love. Not only as his forehead pressed against mine, but through the connection we still shared. It was a tangible thing, more than feeling or action.