“Aesira, is that you?” Kayda stood in the back doorway. She wore one of my old navy blouses that contrasted beautifully with her creamy skin. She looked more like our mother than ever, with the same dark hair and big eyes. My chest ached. I would have to hold it together. I was the elder sister after all. I waved and she turned back to the house. “Aesira is home!”
Kayda was the first to reach me and hugged me tight enough I thought my ribs would crack. She tugged on my sword hilt and squealed. “I can’t believe you have a sword on your back! I hardly even recognize you! It’s not the same without you here!”
My brother Ivarr held Grandma’s hand and guided her toward us. Ivarr had grown in the time I’d been gone. He looked more like a man than a boy now. He was tall like my father but not as brawny. Our mother always said he took after her father in build. “Aesira, the assassin!” Ivarr howled with joy. “Not sure how you got chosen with those scrawny arms.” Ivarr always had a smile and a joke to tell.
“Yeah, yeah, I could whip you, scrawny arms or not.”
He grinned. “I’d like to see that!”
“I’ll give you a demonstration later. I promise not to make you cry too hard.”
My silver-haired grandma jerked me into a hug. She smelled like peppermint oil, and it warmed my heart. It was a welcome gesture after our last interaction when she’d slapped me in the face. “Aesira, darling, we’ve missed you. Your father is bored to tears without his carving partner.”
There were hugs and tears and a barrage of questions from my siblings. They wanted to know everything about Nighthaven and the assassins, but father held up his hands, silencing everyone. “Let’s go inside and talk over a meal. I’m sure she’ll be happy to answer all your questions then.”
“Race you in, Grandma?” Kayda teased.
“Oh, yes, since I’m so fast in my old age,” she crowed.
They laughed and both she and Ivarr guided my grandmother back inside. My father turned toward the barn where one of our cats had taken up residence on Vander’s lap. It was Nessy, the fluffy orange and white that caught more mice than all the others. I wouldn’t have taken Vander for a cat person. I thought she would have been afraid of him, too. She usually didn’t like strange men—or vampires.
My father cleared his throat. “Are you going to invite your friend or leave him waiting with the animals?”
Even if I was frustrated with him, now wasn’t the time to show it. “That’s Viper. You’ve met once.”
“Your trainer then?” Father mused, combing his fingers through his beard. “I thought you might have been bringing home a man for another reason.”
The crushing reminder that Vander and I would only ever be friends hit me in the gut all over again. “Um, no, he’s my trainer, that’s all.” I waved at Vander to join us. “Come on!”
He gently set Nessy on the ground and pulled his hood back. Once he reached my father he offered his hand. My father shook it. By the intensity in his face, I was sure he crushed Vander’s hand in his grip. “Viper, is it?”
Vander didn’t seem fazed. “Yes, sir.”
“What kind of name is that?”
“It’s an assassin name.”
“What is the name your father and mother gave you then?” Father finally released his hand and inclined his head.
“Vander Vierroson. You have a wonderful daughter, Havar. She is an exceptional assassin apprentice, brave, loyal, and strong.”
I stood there, shocked that he’d given him his full name.
Assassins weren’t supposed to do that while in uniform. He wasn’t supposed to take off his hood or mask either for that matter.
“She got most of that from her mother.” He glanced my way. “He’s doing a good job then?”
I smiled and thought about saying something snarky, but I wanted my father to get the best impression. “They say he’s the best assassin in the League. He does a good job, Dad.”
“I’m happy to hear that.” My father put his big arm around my shoulder and gave me a side hug. “Well, we’d better get you both inside for something to eat. Do you like venison, Vander? I have some smoking.”
“It’s a favorite of mine, sir.”
Kayda and even Grandma Esha stared at Vander enough that I was sure he was getting uncomfortable, but I didn’t blame them. I probably did the same thing when I first saw him. No one in Neverglade was as handsome as Vander, and they’d already seen all the males our small village had to offer. He was something new and shiny. The only new thing in this house. Everything looked exactly the way it had when I’d left. The samelong wood table, hand-carved by my great-grandfather. The green tapestry with the cream-colored family tree my mother had stitched. The new branch with baby Aiden had been done. Probably by Kayda. She enjoyed sewing, the way I carved. The same metal shutters ready to be latched over the windows come nightfall.
My throat constricted when I focused on my mother’s empty seat. I wondered if anyone would ever sit there again. We didn’t talk about her loss, which I was grateful for. My brother brought her up casually a few times. How he missed her biscuits and wished she could be there for his upcoming wedding.
I blinked in surprise. “You’re getting married and you’re just now telling me?”
