My throat grows tight, and I can tell from the sniffling in the room that I’m not the only one affected by this moment. I’m quiet for a long time as I battle the grief that tries to leak out of me. I swipe at a stray tear that defies my order tofuck offand battle the others that are pricking to come out.
“I’ve never seen her before,” I admit finally, and those words become an unknown key that unlocks so much pain.
I lose the war with my tears, and they stream down my face unhindered. Finally I have a face to replace Beth’s in my mind when I think of the termmother. I haven’t called Beth that ever, and yet when I think of the word, it was always her face that popped up unbidden. Beth’s image mocked me and tainted that word for so long. I had no way to combat it. Now I do.
I caress my mom’s face, and I can’t help but wonder again what life would have been like if we could have just been together. Like Marn can read my thoughts, she sits down next to me and starts to speak.
“Grier was a good baby. Smart and kind and obstinate,” she tells me with a sniffle and a warm smile. “When she got it in her mind to do something, it was as good as done. Whether it be rearranging all the pots and pans in the kitchens as a child or going off in search of her Chosen when she was grown. Your Tok and I learned there was no talking her out of anything. If she had decided, all we could do was hope for the best.”
I smile and hear Knox give a snort like he’s commiserating with Marn. Marn laughs and wipes at her distant eyes, like she can see it all playing out in her mind like a movie. She always looks like this when she talks about her daughter, and I feel for her.
“Grier was our only, I know we’ve told you that, but she was more than enough. She was always training and pushing and searching for more. It didn’t surprise us that she volunteered to go out in the world. We saw it as one last adventure where she could find her Chosen and then come back and lead our people into a new age. She was primed and ready to take on the role of Sovereign, but she never sparked for any of the Sentinels here, and she needed mates to help lead and carry on her line.”
My gaze shoots to Marn in surprise. She just nods her head, sadly confirming my unvoiced question.
“She was the first girl our line had seen in almost seven-hundred years. Our people are always led by the females, and it was known that as soon as our House bore a girl, she would take back the throne from the House of the Second, who served as stewards while we waited for the rightful bond-laced heir to be born. When she didn’t return, we were devastated, not only on a personal level, but the people she was meant to lead would remain lost without her.”
Marn reaches over and strokes the image in the locket fondly. “But now she’s left us you, and I don’t need to consult a Bond Weaver to be certain that this is just as it’s meant to be.” I open my mouth to ask what that means, but Marn stands up and does that same loud clap thing that Tok did yesterday. I jump once again and almost drop the locket.
“That’s enough of a stroll down memory lane for now. We’ll have plenty of time to do that later. Tonight is about celebrating that you’ve come home to us and all is not lost.” She gives me a huge smile and picks up something one of the ladies set on the table. “Now let’s get you ready to meet your people properly.”
She shuffles over to me and holds up what looks like an armored corset. “That is yours now, my dear,” she tells me, gesturing to the locket.
“I can’t take this from you,” I argue and reach out in an effort to hand it back.
“Nonsense. I won’t hear of it. I am your Marn, and you will mind me,” she scolds me playfully, and I give her an awkward smile, not sure what the hell to say to that.
“Go on, you should have that,” she insists again, and I give up and place the long chain around my neck.
The locket is hidden low in my cleavage, and the silver chain is somewhat hidden in theVof the neck of the dress. Marn manhandles me until I’m up out of the chair and once again facing the mirror. She’s fucking strong for an old ass lady, I’ll give her that. The thought has Getta’s face popping up in my head, and I wonder if Sentinels get stronger and faster with age?
Marn and another lady reach around my waist and place the plum colored, braided leather corset around my torso. It cinches all the soft flowing fabric around my torso and chest. The deep purple leather adds a very kickass vibe to the otherwise flowy feminine dress, and I approve. As they tie the corset tighter, it sits just below my breasts, pushing them up. The fabric at my boobs gathers, helping to hide my nipple situation—thank fuck. One shoulder is covered by the gauzy plum colored fabric, and the other shoulder is completely bare showing off my runes.
I look like a Grecian goddess who couldn’t decide if she was ready to party or battle. I like it. Well, maybe not the slit that runs up one side and into the bottom of the corset. One of the other women with Marn bats my hand away when she sees me trying to pull the slit sides of the fabric together.
“You need to show off those runes, not hide them,” she scolds me.
I grumble my disagreement but stop fucking with the bottom of the dress. My hair is parted, a braid wrapped around my head like a headband, and the remaining strands swept up in a textured bun at the back of my neck. It all makes me look older and more sophisticated than I am. I’m sure the illusion will be ruined as soon as I drop my firstfuckamidst Tierit’s finest Sentinels. Or, as Tok and Marn keep referring to them,my people.
Another knock sounds at the door, and this time when it opens, my heart goes mental. Valen, Sabin, Torrez, Siah, and Ryker all are practically shoved into the room. I stand up from the chair I’ve been pinned in while they do my hair and bat at one of the ladies when they try to get me to sit back down.
Wolf whistles fill the air, and heat fills my Chosen’s eyes. I smile and do a quick twirl, making sure the image of me in this dress gets seared into their brains. I point to the slit.
“Maybe this won’t be as annoying as I thought,” I announce as I picture any one of them sweeping the fabric aside for easy access.
“Dibs!” echo around the room, and Marn makes a choking cough sound at my implication.
I give her a quizzical look. Her and Tok keep doing that whenever I’m affectionate, and it’s really something they need to get over. “I have seven Chosen; what did you think I did with them?” I ask her, and she turns red and titters awkwardly.
I study her, confused. She had a baby, for crying out loud, what’s there to blush about?
“Well, your Chosen have their clothing there on the bed. Please get changed and make your way to the gathering room. Guests are arriving as we speak.” With that, Marn nods at the other two ladies, and they rush out of the room.
“Nice to”—the door clicks shut—“see you again,” Torrez states.
“Careful, they get jumpy when we try to talk to them,” Knox teases, and Valen laughs.
“How was the tribunal?” I ask.
