Page 12 of Homecoming

“You will? You are staying?”

“I am. The rest of my life is on this island.”

“Who was that... uh... person?”

Serin chuckled. “That is my assistant, Aeryn. She is my strong right arm and my legs until I can recover. That will be soon, and she will be free to go on her way.”

Her grandmother shuddered. “Oh, good. She is frightening.”

Serin looked out at the flare of light that indicated combustibles hitting the lava. “She is an excellent assistant and a great friend. I would not have been able to return without her. She also was born in the islands. They know her as she knows them.”

She smiled as the last flickers died in the distance. The vines lowered her stepsister and ex-fiancé to the ground, and they scrambled to their feet.

Ulo slowly turned and looked at Serin. “Sara was pregnant.”

“Sara stole my little blue stick with the blob of pearl-coloured enamel on the cap so that I could keep it for the baby book.” Serin looked at him.

Horror crossed his face, and Sara rushed forward. “No, I lost it, baby. You got me a hot pack and chocolate.”

Serin snorted. “That’s called a period, idiot. You should know; you have one every two months. Did he think you were just really unlucky? It’s been years.”

Ulo was numb. “She said the first loss damaged her, and she kept losing them.”

“And you were too dumb to learn about beta biology. I am guessing that the implant she gets has stopped the sad losses. Right?”

Ulo swallowed. “Yes. Not for years. We were content just to be destined for each other.”

Serin nodded. “Yes, I remember. She read my diary and was very convincing and exaggerated. You fell for it aside from the drunk night when you came to me on reflex instead of her.Your instinct took you to me, and it wasn’t exactly a night to remember, but I was left with something that would haunt me.”

“You were really...”

Sara darted forward. “She’s lying, baby.”

“Ulo, no child has been born to your family since. Not nieces, nephews, cousins, or distant cousins. Sara, none of our cousins have had children that they did not adopt.” Serin leaned on her crutches. “And none of them will until I have my baby in my arms and the island gets her heir.”

Ulo frowned.

Serin laughed. “Oh, not you. You have betrayed the life of the island. You don’t get to breed. Enjoy life placating the whiny little bitch you let lure you away from me just because we were destined.”

Sara’s eyes went dark, and she lunged. Serin whipped up a crutch, caught her under the jaw, and then snapped it down, slicing open her face.

She placed the tip against Sara’s throat and pressed. “So, seeing me on crutches, you thought that this was a fair, fight? You haven’t changed a bit. A lawsuit is in place for you two to replace my trust. All seven million. You may want to get a job because if you think I am going to forgive anything you have done, you have another thing coming.”

Aeryn landed next to her. “Are you good, boss?”

“I am. Let’s get back to the hotel. You have an early morning. Ulo, Sara, if you want to appeal decisions to the king, you are welcome to do it.” She paused. “Grandma, this is my friend Aeryn. Aeryn, this is my mother’s mother, Aluen.”

Aeryn gracefully took Aluen’s hands and bent down to touch her forehead to the old woman’s knuckles. “Good evening, madam. I will endeavour not to creep you out more than I already have.”

She slowly straightened and smiled gently at the old, small beta.

Aluen was dazzled by the smile. “You are... stunning.”

“So, I have been told. Thank you for the compliment. I am sure we will see each other in the next few days when the construction begins.”

Sara was sitting on the ground, her hand on her split cheek.

Serin whispered something, and Aeryn nodded. She made a slice with her hand, and a cut that matched Sara’s opened on Ulo’s face. Water mixed with the blood that dripped down his cheek.

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