I sighed long sufferingly, pinching the bridge of my nose. Growling, “Mother.”
“Stop, it’s cute!” Asteria whispered in my ear, giggling.
I groaned and eyed my father, who shrugged at me with a smirk.No help from that corner.
“I’m agreeing with you, dear. Deal with it.” Mother sniffed; suddenly, every inch the queen who sat the throne beside my father. She only softened as she turned to Asteria, taking her hand.
“Death is nothing to fear, dear. I believe you already learned the truth of it.” Mother smiled knowingly. “A life not lived to its fullest is the greatest tragedy of all.”
Asteria sucked in a sharp breath. “How?”
Mother winked. “Let’s just say we’ve had some greater insight. Which is how I know you are just perfect for my boy.”
I suddenly felt a bit of water gathering in my eyes, and forced it back down before it could leak out.
“You will be a marvelous queen, Asteria.” My mother cupped Asteria’s cheek, looking at her intently. “And an even more marvelous mate. Anxiety is insidious, and we dragons know that more than most. Our emotions can be erratic, uncontrollable, even.”
She dipped her head, and Asteria’s eyes widened, and I was sure I was the only one who noticed the slight tremble of her hands.
“But that’s just part of who we are. Embracing it will set you free, my girl. You have struggled so hard, for so long. Beating against the bars of an invisible cage. Don’t put yourself back in there. Anxiety will crop up again and again. There’s nothing we can do about that. What we can change is how we answer it. Once you know those fears whispering in your ear are just that: fears with no power over you—you will be set free from their influence. Even if they keep whispering away, you can brush them to the side. It’s a battle we face all our lives. Rage and anxiety pull from the same well, and they drive us dragons more than the rest. So if it’s control you’re after, here is where you can grasp it.
“So you will live your life to the fullest, and many,manyyears from now, you two will join us here, and live a second life even more full of love and laughter than the first!” Mother smiled, and a tear tracked down Asteria’s cheek. She merely wiped it away and pressed a kiss to her forehead before pulling her into a tight hug.
I tried to control my own emotions at the sight. Nox, seeing them together broke through every wall I had. A dream I didn’t even know to wish for.
“But for now, it’s time for you to finish your journey here, and then head home to live that life. We’ve arrived,” my father added, pointing to the field before us. “When you get home, you tell the girls how sorry I am, will you? But let them know I’m glad they had the best brother there was to step in for me.”
“Father…” I didn’t know what to say, standing here before him, about to say goodbye once more.
He grabbed me in a hard hug, his hand on the back of my head. “I love you, Calix. And I’msofucking proud of you. No father has ever been so proud in the history of the Otherworld, I tell you.”
I laughed roughly, trying to swallow the lump in my throat, and pulled back to look him over once more. Seeing the same silvery-white hair and lilac eyes streaked with color, it was like looking in a slightly skewed mirror, just enough of my mother in me to not be quite identical.
“You two look more like twins than my twin and I do,” Asteria commented idly with amusement. I snorted, shaking my head with a smile.
“Oh, Calix.” My mother came over, wrapping me in her arms. I held her tightly. “Your father already told you how proud we are, but know I could never have asked for a better son. I love you so much. It was the greatest honor of my life to raise you. And as much as I would have loved to raise both your sisters, I’m grateful for the time Ndrita and I did have. I wish I could have been there for my little Livie, but you did such an amazing job with her. You tell both my girls I love them so much, and I’m so proud of them both, too.”
Mother sniffed, the tears in her eyes beginning to roll down her cheeks. “And I better not see you again for a long, long time. I want an army’s worth of grandchildren all the way down to great-great-great-grandchildren before you even think about it! You hear me?”
I laughed at her commanding tone, while Asteria nearly choked at her words. My father chuckled, patting her on the back. He leaned down to whisper theatrically, “Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of land for them to rule.”
Facing them both, I swallowed hard. My hand shook, and Asteria grabbed it, squeezing it tightly and holding me up when I wasn’t sure I could keep standing on my own.
“I don’t want to say goodbye.” My voice trembled as I choked back my tears, a few breaking through despite my struggle.
“Oh, Calix.” My mom breathed, a smile rising. “This isn’t goodbye. We’ll see each other again, and you’ll get to tell us all the wonderful things you two have accomplished since we last met.”
She kissed me on the cheek, as my father smiled over at me. “We’ll see you both again soon. But in the meantime, live your lives for the love you share. Enjoy and embrace every moment.”
Chapter Forty-four
Arien
As Titan,Harpina, and the rest of Night’s command returned to our encampment south of the Etheralta Mountains, I knew Asteria had passed into the Otherworld.
The very thought sent a chill down my spine.
In fact, I was sure I knewwhenshe went through. I felt a strange tug in my gut right before it felt like a hole opened inside of me. It was similar to when the spell was first lifted from her. I hadn’t known what it was at the time, only that it felt like something I’d been missing forever had finally slotted into place.
