Sometimes I forgot her grandparents were nobles.
Ourgrandparents.
Stars, Ihadn’teven seen them outside of meetings since I learned Matea existed.
Another thing to add to my list of things to do—and my list of anxieties.
“What are you thinking about?” Matea asked gently, and I realized she’d been observing me.
At the question, I chuckled under my breath.
“I’m trying not to think at all, if we’re being honest.”
“That doesn’t mean you’ve been successful at it,” she countered.
With that response, my smile faltered.
I turned to look back out at the world below as I told her, “You’re right.”
Matea stayed silent, looking at the trees and flowers with me—giving me the space and time I needed todecideto let her in or not.
“Honestly?” I sighed. “So much has occurred over the past handful of months, with so little time to process it all. My entire life and what Ithought my futurewould be shifted right before my eyes. I discovered hidden secrets about myself, my family, and the war. Not to mention I feel likeI’mgrieving a brotherthat’sstill alive, while also grieving a father that was never there—whoIsaw to his end. Do I even deserve to grieve them? And Stars, Fatherisn’teven here anymore,and his influence still reigns strong, especially over Dimitri. Now,I’mstuck with the consequences of the choices that Father made, and that my twin is continuing to make.”
After a beat of silence, I added quietly, “It all just… begins to feel heavy, after a while, is all.”
Slowly, Matea released a breath, letting whatI’dsaid hang in the air between us.
“And here I thoughtIhad problems,” she said. Icouldn’tstop the small up-turn of my lips at her ability to cope with humor. “That does soundreally heavy, Viva. ButI think sometimes youneed to remember that youaren’talone anymore.You’velost a lot, butyou’vegained even more than what you had. Yes, you left behind a corrupt family, but you made a loving one for yourself here, in this very castle.That’ssomething to hold on to—and toutilize.” She gently nudged me with her shoulder. “Anddon’tyou dare forget that you have me now, too. And ifyou’dgive them a chance, you have our grandparents as well. Iknowthey’dlove to get to know you in a deeper way than you simply being their queen.”
She paused before adding, “That’s part of why I came here today, actually.”
Turning to her, I watched as she pulled a small slip of paper out of her pocket and slid it across the railing to me.
“Nan and Pops—Billie and Geoff, I mean—would be honored if youaccompaniedus for dinner later tonight.Don’tsay no just yet! You have all day to consider it.”
I unfolded the paper to peer at the contents, which turned out to be an address that I could only imagine wasthe Ashford’sestate.
Folding it in on itself again, I tucked it away.
“What was the other part? Of why you came?” I asked curiously, trying to avoid giving her an answer right away.
At that, Matea lookedslightly sheepishasher eyes darted around beforeshe answered. “I just wanted to check in on my… my little sister.”
A smile crept its way onto my face as I listened to her, but I knew shewouldn’twant me to make a big fuss over this—even ifI wasbeamingonthe inside.
“If you’ll have me, that is,” she added when I didn’t respond instantly.
“I always wanted a sister. I thoughtI’dfound that with Aurora, but… well, you see howthat’sgoing.” I met her gaze. “It would be an honor to be considered an Ashford, you know.”
“You already are one.” Matea wrapped an arm around my shoulders and squeezed me into her side. Though the contact was brief, Irelished inthe affection shedidshow.
“Where is your Robyn, by the way?”sheasked, pulling her arm back to her own side.
“He’s with some of the others, preparing for the journey and mapping the route out for theOcreinIsles.”
Matea raised her brows. “Were you not invited?”
“I’m always welcome.” Ishookmy head. “But I needed some time to myself this morning.”
