She barked out a surprised laugh at my formal response. “Please,atleastdrop the titles from our names.We’veagreedwe’reall family, after all.”Her smilegrew before adding,“And maybe someday we’ll be Nan and Pops to you, too.”
The bright grin she wore was so infectious, Icouldn’thelp but smile in return.
“Billie it is, then,” I agreed.
“Before you go, you have to try the dessert croissant!” Geoff exclaimed, picking up the plateofsaid treats and passing it around the table.
As the rest of the evening carried on, I found myself feeling more joyful than I had in a while—outside ofbeing with Byn. Being with theAshfordsfelt so…easy.
And when the night came to a close, and I stepped outside into the midsummer air, I could’ve sworn I felt a cool breeze from the North kissthe skinatthe back of my neck.
If I were to let myself dream in that moment,I’dhave saidmaybe thatwas a gentle caress from Mother, letting me know she was with us—even when shewasn’t.
Yet, a tiny, hopeful voice inside of me whispered.
She wasn’t with usyet.
***
Matea and I walked back to The Haven under a moonlit sky. We made small talk about how dinner had gone as we walked, which we decided together was an overall success.
As we approached the open gate leading into The Haven, I waved toward the two guards that were on duty. They each rested a fist over theirheartin return.
After Matea and I had passed through the main gate, I came to a slow stop, making sure we were out of earshot of the guards.
Matea, realizing I was no longer next to her, turned around, puzzled.
“I said I’d walk you to the door, Viva. We’re almost there,” she commented.
“I… want to show you something,” I said, motioning for her to backtrack to where I stood.
Raising an eyebrow, she approached me, then crossed her arms over her chest. “Let’s see it.”
I swallowed forcefully, then slid the daggerI’dbeen gifted by Dimitri out of its hiding place and into my hand. The same dagger Ihadn’tgone anywhere without sinceI’dreceived it. I made sure to hold it in a way that covered the Ashford family insignia on the side of the hilt, facing up.
“Dimitri gave me this right before I left the North.He’dsaid he found it in Mother’s things, and atfirstIdidn’tbelieve him, but the family crest matches up with theAshfords’.” I slid my fingers away to reveal the insignia of the deeply rooted willow tree with a small bird on one of its many branches. The green gem embeddedbelow the carved image sparkled as though the sun had shone on it at that moment.
“I have a feeling,” Iflippedthe dagger over to reveal the other side, “that it should belong toyouinstead.”
The other side was carved with an image of a great ocean wave. There were stars over the wave, and a blue sapphire embeddedinthat side of the hilt.
I’dbeen thinking about it lately—how Mother had come to own a dagger with an unknown crest on it, along with her own. There had only been one explanation that made sense to me.
And my sister’s reaction told me everything I needed to know.
Upon seeing the second insignia—the one I’d never been able to identify—Matea gasped.
Quick as the lightning I wielded, Matea snatched the dagger from my hands. She tilted it toward the dim light coming from torches near the guardswe’dpassed, but as she shifted it in another direction, it dawned on me that shedidn’thave the gift of Northern sight.
Lifting a hand, I conjured a small flame to rest in my palm and held it closer to my sister to light up her surroundings enough to see whatever it was she was searching for.
Shifting her weight to lean closer to my flame, she lifted the dagger to the light, her eyes scouring over every detail.
“Do you care to fill me in on your findings, or am I to guess?” I questioned, becoming a tad impatient at her lack ofan explanation.
“You’reright—the first side is the Ashford family crest. But on the other side… that’s myfather’s.” My lips tilted downward as her voice cracked on that last word.
Her father. Ethan.
