Nellis nodded in agreement. “He speaks the truth lass,” Nellis added.
“He is right. You are part of our family now. So, I’m afraid you are stuck with us,” Addi said, giving Nev a warm smile.
Family, she thought. Nev gave a quick nod before breathing deeply for a moment. “My father had led me to believe my mother sacrificed herself so he and I could escape. Now… now I think that is just what I wanted to believe. Sagrine told me something. He said my father was worried I would turn out like my mother,” Nev said, her voice growing quiet as she fought to hold back her tears.
“Nev, you can’t believe anything he told you. He wanted to hurt you. Remember? We’ve already gone over this,” Wyatt noted tenderly. He turned to look at her more closely.
“I know. You’re right. But it isn’t just what Sagrine said. I have been playing the last moments my father and I shared over and over in my head. Something he said keeps bothering me. He told me that my mother was brave, beautiful, and kind. And that she was also the Empress Astrella. When shadows overtook her, he fled with me. So, he left the woman he loved to be killed so that he could save me,” Nev said, her voice trembling.
Wyatt squeezed her hand and sighed. “Hmm… that is a little cryptic. It almost sounds like your dad was talking about two different people. Or at least two sides of the same coin,” he surmised.
Nellis nodded. “Yeah, the courageous, compassionate side and the empress side,” he noted.
“And I always thought the shadows were his way of telling ten-year-old me about the coup, but now I think it was her losing herself to something dark and… sinister,” Nev sighed, hanging her head down.
Wyatt wrapped an arm around Nev and pulled her close to him. “Maybe that explains why he only escaped with you. You were the one he loved and the one he needed to keep safe,” suggested Wyatt gently.
“Safe from her own mother? That is… harsh. I’m really sorry, Nev,” Addi offered compassionately.
Nev leaned her head against Wyatt and sighed. “Thanks. Me too,” she lamented sorrowfully.
“You know that doesn’t make you like her, at least not like the bad parts. Not any more than you, your father and me being Tinks makes us like the prowlers,” Wyatt proposed, lifting Nev’s face to his.
Nev felt tears roll down her cheeks. “What if you are wrong about me? I feel like I have to go to the palace, but I’m so afraid I’ll… What if there is already a darkness in me?” she whimpered, her voice trailing off.
Wyatt placed his hands on each side of her face and looked at her intently. “I’m not wrong about you. You are a truly good person. And I know you think I saved you, but you saved me too,” he assured her earnestly.
Nev shook her head and tried to pull away.
“Hey, look at me. I love you. I’m not wrong about you. Understand?” Wyatt asked sincerely.
Nev sighed heavily and then smiled briefly at him. “Okay. I understand. Thank you,” she said, her voice still shaky.
Wyatt pulled her close and kissed her deeply. “Good, that is settled then. And don’t think to try and change my mind. Stubborn, remember?” Wyatt asked, nudging her forehead with his and grinning.
Nev smiled at him and kissed him again.
“We believe in you too, but I think we’ll leave the more physical reassurances to Wyatt. Although, preferably when I am not in the room,” Addi noted, smiling at Nev before shaking her head.
“I concur,” Nellis said, laughing briefly.
“So, the palace? Anyone have a plan? I mean besides just walking in the front door?” Wyatt asked, glancing around the table.
“Well, the palace means the emperor. And probably his oracle and general. Oh, and a whole lot of enforcers,” Nellis stated.
“Is that all?” Addi interjected as she shook her head.
Sensing something stir within Nev, Wyatt looked at her closely. “Why do I have the feeling you have a plan? And I’m not going to like it?” Wyatt asked as he studied her sympathetically.
“Because I do, and you probably won’t,” Nev replied, sighing before giving Wyatt a half-smile.
“Well, no point in keeping us all in suspense,” Nellis declared before leaning forward in his chair.
“First, Addi and Nellis… I will never be able to repay you for your help and for welcoming me into your family,” Nev stated sincerely with a small, sad smile.
Addi looked at Nev, feeling confused. “Why do you say that like you are saying goodbye?” she asked. The concern in her voice was evident.
“Because she is, lass,” Nellis said, nodding at Nev and sighing heavily.
“What? We aren’t coming with you. You are going there alone?” Addi questioned, feeling panicked and frustrated.
“No, not alone,” Wyatt replied quietly, swallowing hard at the lump that was now in his throat.
“No! No. Nev, you can’t tell me to stay here and then tell me you are taking my brother with you. Look, I care for you. I do. But this can’t be your plan,” Addi argued, shaking her head and becoming increasingly agitated.
“I need to get into the throne room, or I will never be safe,” Nev explained, she looked at Addi sympathetically.
Wyatt played with the ring on his finger. “And I can get you there,” he added softly.
Nev nodded and tried to smile at him.
“You do realize you are really stretching this ‘far from danger’ thing, right?” Wyatt asked Nev before shaking his head.
“I know. It will work, though. I’m sure of it,” assured Nev.
“Say it does. Say Wyatt can use his magical… whatever ring and get you right into the throne room. Then what?” Addi demanded exasperatedly.
“Then I meet my destiny… and I keep Wyatt safe,” Nev stated honestly.
“No. Nev, what if both of those things can’t be true? You promised me,” Addi pleaded, her face had grown very serious.
“Nev,
