Keeping my face calm and open, I stepped up to his side and peered at the shack with him, trying to imagine whathewas seeing.
“My mother thoughtI’dhave a better chance at a happy life if I went to go live with her brother, my uncle, on the continent. She…She wanted me to have everything she neverhad,” Rayven spoke with regret in his voice. “She sent me away a couplemonthsbefore the borders closed. I thought she and Beckettwould join me someday, but the day after the borders were sealed, my uncle got the letter sayingshe’dpassed.”
“Rayven…”
“Beckett, my brother,isstill here. We share the same father, though Beckett was always his favorite.” Rayven pursed his lips, doing his best to push back his emotions. “And I was Mother’s.”
“I haven’t heard about your uncle until now,” I stated. Not a question, so he knew if hedidn’twant to explain, hedidn’thave to.
But he did.
“He reunited with Mother among the Stars.”
We stood for a few moments, simplyobserving. No movement came from within the shack, though it was so early in themorning,that was to be expected.
“What do you want to do?” I asked gently. The situation and how it was handled was completely up to him—I was just there if he needed someone.
Rayven’s eyes flickered to the door of the shack before turning to look at me. Within his gaze, I could see all the doubt, fear, and anxiety swirling within him. Butbetweenall of that, there was also a hint of something else.
A fraction of hope.
I placed my hand on his arm and squeezed.“You’ve got this.”
That sentence, along with a deep breath, was all it took for him to slide up and knock on the shack door—the same knock theValwainalways did.
I slipped into my shadow form and moved closer to Rayven until I blended in with the shadow he cast under the moonlight. I knew he could sense me there, and I hoped he knew I would be there for him the same wayhe’dbeen there for me.
There came a shifting and stumbling sound from the other side of the door, and a moment later, it swung open to reveal who I could only imagine was Beckett.
We’dobviously roused him from sleep, as he wasshirtlessand his hair was an unruly mess of light brown curls that were a slightly looser pattern than Rayven’s. Though, like hisolder brother, he had the same strong nose and olive brown skin. Hecouldn’thave been but a year or two younger than Rayven. Beckett’s skin was littered with small scars, though Icouldn’ttell what from—only thatthey’dcome from all periods of life, as some lookedfairly oldwhileothersappeared freshly healed. I watched as his eyes, the same light brown shade of his hair, widenedwhenhe realized who stood before him.
“Rayven?” Beckett asked, his voice ringing with disbelief. “Am I dreaming?”
“Not dreaming.” The spy shook his head. “It’sme, Beckett. I told you all those years ago thatI’dsee you again, and I meant it.”
“How…How are you here? Where have you been? Are you staying?” Beckett began askingquestion after question, but as he opened his mouth to ask another, a different voice spoke out.
“It doesn’t matter, because he’s leaving.Now.”
Rayven’s little brother’s form stilled, as who I could only imagine was their fatherpushedhis way in front of him.
Upon seeing the older male, who shared many characteristics with Beckett, Rayven dipped his chin.
“I’m not here to cause trouble, Father. I—”
“The name is Blaine, boy—I’m no father of yours,” the old male spat. “Andyou’reno brother of Beckett’s. Now get lost again, before Imakeyou.”
At the threat, I crept forward and was ready to materialize when I noticed Rayven subtly motion for me to stand down.
All I could do was trust him.
“Please,” Rayven said, his voice breaking slightly.“I only came to make peace.”
“You came to cause trouble, just like you did when you entered the world.I’llsay it one more time.Get. Lost.” Blaine took a halfstep forward andraisedhis hand into the air, causing Beckett behind him to flinch back.
I realized then where he’d likely gotten his scars.
Rayven, though,didn’tshrink back or cower. He met his brother’s gaze, looking past their father, and I could only imagine what Beckett could see in his eyes at that moment.The disappointmentandthe regret. And especially the longing to make peace and finally get to know his brother.
