“It is so good to finally be able to join the main House of Roake. My parents kept me in seclusion growing up,” Elena said with a wink.
This must be the cover story they’d developed for Elena.
“Auralyn’s parents retreated to a remote outpost after their daughter’s death,” Wren murmured. “Very few knew they’d had another child in the years since.”
Smart.
From what Kira had been told, Elena’s appearance was very similar to that of her grandmother, Wren’s deceased wife and Auralyn’s sister. It made sense to use that family as a screen for Elena. What’s more, since they were related, it made it less likely they would betray her.
“How are you enjoying Roake so far?” Kira asked as the small group moved toward the door and the hallway beyond.
Elena’s respectful demeanor disappeared as soon as they were out of earshot of the rest of the training hall. “Save me, Auntie.”
“From what exactly?”
For a moment Elena resembled the preteen she actually was as she exuded disdain. “I’m surrounded by children.”
That surprised a laugh out of Kira. “You are a child.”
Elena fixed Kira with a disgusted look. “Not like them.”
It pained Kira that she was right.
Like Kira and Elise, Elena had been forced to grow up early. She lacked the innocence of the rest of Roake’s children and possessed a maturity that they likely wouldn’t grow into for years to come.
As much as Kira tried to shield Elena, there were places where she failed. It was a fact that haunted her.
“I never thought I’d say this, but I miss Tommy and the rest.” Elena scowled at the gaggle of children who had surrounded one of the Tuann adults. A teacher, Kira suspected.
Kira suppressed her smile. “I seem to remember you calling Tommy an idiot too when I first found him.”
“That’s because he is an idiot.” Elena pouted up at Kira. “Can’t you fix this?”
“Exactly how am I supposed to do that?”
Elena waved her hands in the air. “Don’t you have connections to the big, intimidating sourpuss who calls himself the Overlord? Use them to get me out of this.”
Kira’s eyebrows climbed as she regarded her niece as if the girl were a mythic creature she’d never seen before. “Sourpuss. Wow.”
One side of Auralyn’s mouth quirked. “She called him much worse—to his face.”
Kira was sure that had gone over well. As Overlord, Harlow probably wasn’t used to a mouthy preteen convinced she was immortal and thus didn’t need any pesky emotions such as caution or fear.
“I was worried,” Elena muttered, her gaze dropping. “You looked really bad when they took you and no one was telling us anything. They wouldn’t even let me see Uncle Jin.”
Regret moved through Kira.
She could only imagine what it would have been like for Elena and the other two children to see her in that state. They must have been terrified.
A commotion from the group of children drew Kira’s attention as a boy around Elena’s age jogged their way. There was curiosity in his gaze as he took in Kira and Wren’s presence before focusing on Elena.
“New girl, it’s time to get started. Quit bothering the heir and get a move on,” he ordered.
Elena gave Kira a frown that seemed to say, “see what I’m dealing with here.”
“New girl,” he said again, this time sounding a lot more irritated when Elena didn’t move.
“I heard you the first time. And I have a name.”
