“Some day, yes,” she mumbled. “I think I should focus on other things for a little bit.”
“We’re always here, love.” Farrah leaned closer. “Are you using magic to hide your eyes?”
Brela nodded. “Afractionof what power I used to need to hide them. Even with the noglida, my magic didn’t need much concentration to call.”
Elias pressed a kiss to her temple. “I hope you know that what you did with the shadows was incredible. I’ve never seen something so beautiful.”
“I’m pissed I missed it,” Farrah grumbled.
Brela chuckled. “I don’t say this enough, but you two were incredible as well.” She squeezed their hands. “Even with that shit rescue, I couldn’t have done any of this without you. The stuff in Aelstow, the desert with Oni, and traveling through Valisea… you made this possible. You… you helped me get my freedom. I owe you both so much.”
Farrah leaned forward and rested their foreheads together. “After everything you’ve done for us, we are forever even, Bre.”
Elias squeezed her tighter. “Are you ready for the rest of today?”
Brela nodded. “Serill and I will talk with the king. Even if I don’t get the money, I’ll have to see Ovir and explain my absence. It’ll be a long, emotional day.”
Farrah smiled. “I’ve got a big meal planned for tonight.”
“I’ll get the wine so we can get drunk,” Elias said with a wink. “Then I think I might sleep in our bath.”
Brela laughed. “Not a chance when we finally have our bed again. You have no idea how much I’ve missed sleeping with you two.”
“Naked, I hope,” Farrah whispered.
“Very,” Brela teased.
Elias smirked and tugged Farrah closer. “If you two don’t stop talking, I will throw you over my shoulders and carry you home now.”
A pointed cough interrupted them as Serill scooted past. “Not to interrupt…”
“Coming,” Brela sighed. She planted a kiss on Elias’s lips, then Farrah’s. “I love you both.”
“We love you.”
Elias smiled and took an extra second before letting go of her hand. “See you at home.”
Home.
This was her home. They were her home. That’s all she needed.
Brela nodded and led the prince out of the orphanage.
* * *
The silence was startingto make Serill uncomfortable. Not just the eerie quiet of Brela making absolutely no noise as she walked alongside him, but the strangeness of air around her. Ever since her full magic had been unleashed, it had encompassed her. A fierce woman became sharper. A quiet assassin became invisible. A nightmare became absolute darkness.
But she was still Brela. He could still see that glimmer of light in the way she joked with her friends. He’d seen her fiercely protect them from the noglida, command a gods-damned celvusa, and, even in excruciating pain, had half-sprinted, half-limped back to them to make sure they were all safe. To make sure Cason was still alive.
Shehadn’t changed, only revealed an underlying secret that kept her alive.
He knew Cason didn’t see that.
And that’s why the silence was so unbearable. Serill’s heart was breaking—for his oldest friend and his newest one. He knew theirs were, too.
Serill opened his mouth.
“There’s nothing to fix, Prince,” Brela said, not looking at him.
