My mother cleared her throat. “We’ll work on Layne. You look...you look so much like my sister.”
“Really? I was thinking that I resemble you.” I pointed to my hair.
“Yes. But my sister even more so. Come,” she said, indicating the palace. “Let’s go inside.”
Okay. This was happening. It really was. I whirled around and met Cypress’s gaze. “Come? Please?”
Every gaze shot to him. I hadn’t wanted to make things hard on him, and I had to try to fix this before it went askew. “He’s kept me safe even against the assassins who tried to kill me. I don’t know this place or you. I’m sorry. I’d like there to be fireworks or just some sort of recognition, but everyone is a stranger. Except him.”
“Ah. Assassin. I didn’t even see you there,” said my father—gosh, that term was foreign to my mind. “I suppose there is the issue of your payment. And thank-yous are in order. The Druid Kingdom of Gantrick is indebted to you. Tonight we will have a banquet in your honor to celebrate the return of our lost daughter.”
He clapped to accentuate his proclamation, and my cheeks flushed. This was all so much to take in. I didn’t want a banquet. I wanted to get to know these virtual strangers. “A banquet isn’t necessary,” Cypress grumbled while marching up to join me at my side. “But I would like to discuss Layne’s safety moving forward and what you plan to do about retaliation from the guild. Your wards are effective but not impenetrable. Bhaltair is still out there.”
My chest bloomed with warmth for my protective assassin. Even if he was only mine temporarily, I reveled in having him on my side during the turbulent times.
“I’m more than capable of protecting my daughter and kingdom. I’m not paying you to coordinate her safety moving forward. I’m paying you to bring her home—which you did. Tonight, we celebrate.”
“Please.” I looked between them. “Couldn’t he help stay and coordinate it? I mean...that couldn’t hurt, right? That man after me is terrifying. I think anything that Cypress can do to prevent that would be wonderful. Please.”
There, I’d said please twice. Didn’t kids do that with their parents? They said please like that was some kind of magic word, and it gave them what they wanted. That’s what I’d been told, what I’d learned. I’d had no one to try the trick on, but maybe it would work now. I could hope.
My father nodded. “Okay. I suppose I can see the logic. An assassin stopping an assassin. Everyone with me. Now.”
His tone brooked no refusal. I wouldn’t have dared try. Instead, I hustled to keep up with them. My mother kept looking over her shoulder at me as though I might take off running and disappear. Honestly, the idea was sort of appealing. I could make a run for it. Surely I could get out of the border. It must keep people out, not in. That was something I needed to check on.
Cypress leaned over to whisper in my ear. “You’re brave. You can do this.”
How did he know? “Am I being that obvious?”
“I’ve had days to study you. I doubt anyone else knows you were thinking about making a run for it.”
My father looked over his shoulder. “Everything okay?”
Cypress and I both nodded, practically in unison. I almost cracked up. He’d been studying me?
We finally reached the palace. I took in the sight of everything in complete awe. I couldn’t even process how massive this place was. Various creatures rushed around us, some stopping to openly gawk at me. The best way to describe this place was...alive. Plants were incorporated into every aspect of the castle. It breathed with vitality and beauty. Along the exterior of the castle were bright purple flowers I didn’t know the name of. I paused to stare at the vibrant hue, transfixed by the large petals.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” my mother asked. I hadn’t even noticed that she was watching me.
“What’s it called?” I asked, cocking my head to the side.
“Luna Lilies. They sprouted up the night you were born. It was like the earth and night sky wanted to celebrate your arrival,” she said softly, emotion clogging her voice. “It makes sense that you’d feel drawn to them.”
We continued to walk, but I paused to brush my index finger along its stem.
Welcome home, my child.
I gasped at the ethereal voice booming within my mind. “Did you hear that?” I asked Cypress. His brow dipped in confusion. Both my parents stopped and were beaming at me.
“Hear what?” Cypress asked.
“A voice…” I trailed off.
A woman curtsied in front of me, cutting me off. “Ma’am. Welcome home.” She had wings. I’d never seen anyone like her. The pink in her hair, the way glitter seemed to move all around her.
“I…” I took a long breath. “Excuse me if this is rude, but what sort of...person are you? Please forgive me. I’ve never seen anyone who looks like you.”
She smiled at me. “That is okay, Princess. I am a Grundel. I know that is not what people think Grundels look like, but they’re wrong. I am dedicated to your family. And we aren’t generally put in jail, so that is why you haven’t seen us before.”
I smiled at her. “Well, I imagine that there are lots of people and things I haven’t seen. Cypress took me to a town. I’d never seen buildings like that before. I’m pretty much a very big child in some ways.”
Cypress cleared his throat. “You’re not a child in any way. You’re brilliant and capable. There are things you don’t know, but you figure them out much faster than anyone else could. And, you are resilient.”
I looked over at him. Who was this version of
