Page 23 of Court of Secrets and Flames

As my visitor enters carrying a tray and kicks the door shut behind her, a knot of emotion swells in my throat.

She sets the tray down and straightens. Two seconds later, she launches herself at me, and we cling to each other like it’s our last day alive.

My sister embraces me tightly. “Gods, Lark. It’s so good to finally get to spend time with you without the entire Tirene court watching our every move.”

I squeeze her back, and for the first time since leaving Aclaris, my muscles relax. “I missed you.”

Leesa releases me, rearing back to scan my body like she’s checking for injuries. Her manner is oddly reminiscent of Sterling’s before he escorted me to the celebration. Seconds later, her eyes mist with tears. “Are you okay?”

The knot in my throat grows, and I choke out a laugh. It’s either that or cry. “I’m drained and a little tired since I slept like crap last night, but I’m fine. Just happy you’re safe and here with me. Until today, I wasn’t sure if you were even alive. I’ve spent the last two months worried sick.”

“And then the first time you see me, I’m this close to becoming a dragon appetizer.” Leesa sniffles. “I hate that I worried you. What you did out there with the dragons, though…that was incredible. You realize you saved both of our lives? You’re amazing.”

I study my sister, much like she did me moments ago. “Funny. I don’t feel amazing. More like a spectacle, or maybe an experiment.” Vulnerability crawls into my voice. “Like I don’t fit in anywhere.”

Leesa tugs on a strand of my hair. “Are you kidding me? Who the hell cares about fitting in? You’ve got a supposedly extinct and amazing magical ability, which is a million times better. Seriously, little sis, don’t ever conform, especially not for the sake of other people. Blaze your own path.” She squeezes my arms and shakes her head. “I can still hardly believe it. My baby sister is a dragoncaller.”

Despite the horrors of recent events, my mouth kicks up at the corners. “See? I always knew I was cooler than you.”

She smirks. “Now you’re pushing it.”

A comfortable silence settles over us, and I take the time to drink in the sight of my sister. Her dark golden blond hair is loose down her back, much like it was at the banquet last night. The shiny tresses and brown eyes complement her light olive skin. She’s tall and curvy and has a small bump on the bridge of her nose like our mother does. With their shared hair color, the two of them could be sisters.

I’m the outlier, with straighter, dark brown hair streaked with gold, large hazel eyes, a slightly upturned nose, and pale skin. We’re even built differently. I’m more slender and several inches shorter. Petite, as my mother says.

Although, as I learned at Flighthaven, Lynnea Axton almost certainly isn’t my biological mother.

And Leesa isn’t my biological sister.

The reminder returns some of the stiffness to my body, and a dull pain throbs in my chest. “How long did you know I wasn’t your real sister?” Hurt laces my voice.

“Not for long, I promise. I didn’t start putting all the pieces together until Flighthaven.” She pauses to cross her arms and glare. “And don’t you dare say I’m not your real sister. We may not share blood, but we’re family in all the ways that matter. Got it?”

My eyes burn. I didn’t realize how much I needed her reassurance until she said the words. “Got it.” Raking my teeth over my lower lip, I gather my courage to ask a question that’s circled my head since last night. “My biological mother…do you happen to know if she’s here in Tirene?”

Her face falls, puncturing the tiny ball of hope lodged in my chest. “I asked about her, and she passed away years ago. Like the king, she was told you were dead, but I guess she kept the faith for a long time before accepting you were gone for good.”

The sharp tearing sensation to the left of my sternum catches me off guard. I scold myself for being dramatic. I have nomemories of the woman who birthed me, so how can I possibly mourn her absence?

Hope. Faith. Two of the most necessary elements to bring light into your life. And two of the most painful to lose.

“You got that information from a trustworthy source?”

“Yes. I’m sorry, Lark.”

“What about other blood relatives?”

She lowers her eyes and toys with a loose thread on her sleeve. “From what I could gather, it sounds like your mother and father were both only children. Your father’s parents are dead, and while I couldn’t get a straight answer about your mother’s parents because they’re from a more remote region, no one’s heard them in ages, so it doesn’t look good. I’m sorry,” she repeats.

A hollow ache spreads beneath my ribs. “That’s okay, thanks anyway. I appreciate you trying to find out.”

Her gaze darts to me and away again. “No need to thank me.” Changing the subject, Leesa gestures at the food she brought in. “I know we have lots to talk about, but there’s plenty of time for that. You need to eat.” She settles the tray on a low table in front of the plush couch. “You’re probably starving. I noticed you didn’t eat much at the banquet.”

Although my body needs the sustenance, my stomach sours at the thought of eating. “I didn’t have much of an appetite last night. All I could think about was how close I came to losing you. How close we both came to dying. And these people…they just sat there and watched. The king wants to use me for his own gain. I don’t know all the details, but I intend to find out exactly what he’s up to.”

My sister pales, glancing around the suite like the walls have ears. “Be careful. I’m just as upset as you are, but trust me, you won’t get anywhere if you demand answers. That will only put you in more danger.” She sits and uncovers a plate on the tray,revealing an array of meats, cheeses, fruits, and fresh bread. “Palace life is cutthroat. Everyone has ulterior motives and hidden agendas. It’s like a game where the rules always change.”

I join her on the couch. “Then I’ll learn to play the game.”

---