Page 63 of Echoes of War

“You’ve already made me proud, Reina. There is nothing you need to prove.” I reassured her. “You are strong, you are capable, you are more than enough. But you are also kind, don’t lose that. Not on my account.”

“I will do whatever needs to be done to protect my home. I’m a soldier now, Maia,yoursoldier.”

The nickname passing through her lips brought a smile to my face. I took her in, deciding carefully over my next words. Ultimately deciding there was nothing else to say that had been left unsaid. Then I noticed something different for the first time.

“Your hair …” I said, my fingers reaching for the side of her head.

She beamed at the recognition. “I chopped it. Didn’t make much sense to keep it too long. Can be used against me in a fight.”

Her long, wavy brown hair was now hovering inches above her shoulders. She pulled it into two tight braids on either side—my battle hair. I swallowed down the words I wanted to say, landing on words of reassurance instead.

“It’s beautiful,” I offered in compliment instead. It was true, her hair was beautiful; it just wasn’t Reina.

“I’ve got this,” she said, her tone strong and unwavering. “I’m going to win us this war, I know it.”

Without question, I believed she was capable of fulfilling her role in this. In fact, it had never been a question from the momentAbel revealed what needed to take place. Something told me she was trying to convince herself more than anyone else.

“Reina, you are a fucking warrior. There’s no doubt in my mind.” A prideful look crossed over her pale face, confidence exhibiting through her posture. It almost made me halt my next words, but I couldn’t do that. She needed to hear this, needed to know she wasn’t alone. “It’s okay to not be okay … It’s okay to not be fine.”

Her brows furrowed in confusion. She stepped back nervously. I tucked a stray strand behind her ear with a smile. “What I’m trying to say is, none of us are okay. None of us are fine. And that’s okay … In this world we live in, that is okay.”

She studied me for a beat, slowly nodding her head. A hint of color found its way back in her cheeks. “This ain’t goodbye, ya know? It’s a see you later.”

I ran my hand down the side of her face, wiping the tears that fell. “We don’t say goodbye in this family. Keep your eyes peeled and your head high. I’ll see you when I get home.”

Our next embrace was tighter than the last, a grip that left no room for words. My body shook in unison with hers as I bit back my tears, to no avail. In a moment of clarity, I slipped an envelope into the side of her coat.

“For Prescott and Riley’s eyes only. You can’t open it.”

Her braids slid across the sides of my face in acknowledgment. Abel and Moe could have no knowledge of this. It could change the course of the war. I could trust Reina to keep this secret, for she knew the threat her brother posed if he learned what lay inside. I loved Moe, but after my birthday, I knew the only mind I could trust to keep him out was my own.

Abel strolled over, hands in the pockets of his puffer coat. “We need to go now or we’ll miss our window.”

Reina and I separated. She hopped onto her horse. The image staring back at me reminding me of myself almost four years ago.For she was broken, but not lost. She was now finding her own path ahead and stronger for it. A woman to be feared, a woman much stronger than I would ever be. Her heart and soul would help change this world, I was sure of it.

I faced Abel, a reflection of Riley now meeting me head on. His expression was stern, but I saw right past the bullshit. There was a scared little boy in there, one who was becoming a man before my eyes.

“Riley is going to be beyond fucking happy to see you.” I said, “I’m amazed by the man you are, Abel. Thank you for holding down the fort.”

There was one final hug I needed to give out. I pulled him taut with my body, whispering into his ear so only he could hear it. “Remember who you are, remember what you’re capable of.”

His soft words brushed against my ear. “A wise woman once told me to ‘fear the quiet ones.’”

I leaned back, grabbing onto the side of his face, meeting his eye even though somehow, over the years, doing so now required me to look up instead of straight on. “I’m never wrong,” I said smugly, kissing him gently on the cheek.

“Catch you on the flip side, General.” He laughed, humor absent in the words.

Abel finished tying his pack into place, and I watched part of my heart ride off into the night. Three figures of death, on their way to preserve what was left of light and life.

Sloan led her now inconsolable mother away, mourning the loss of their last remaining bloodline. Seth and his father had no longer been considered as such from the moment they chose sides. As they passed, Sloan’s features turned tense, a weak smile pulling at the side of her round lips.

Footsteps sounded to my right, and I turned to face the owner of them.

“I saw that,” Alexiares said, now at my side.

I brought an innocent visage to my wide eyes. “Don’t know what you’re talking about, Alexi.” A half-assed attempt of a childish grin formed on my face, knowing the name alone had the potential to throw him off.

Strong hands found my waist, and he pulled me close. “Nothing slips by me unnoticed, princess. And distractions only work until they don’t,” he said, his voice turning deviously low.

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