Page 62 of When the Moon Met the Sun

“I’m sorry, can you say that last part again?” I asked the stout male.

He wasn't much to look at—he wore a pair of crooked spectacles, had graying, brown hair the color of packed earth, and was barely taller than I was.

“I said that Lord and Lady Ashford won’t be in attendance at today’s meetings—they’re home caring for a sick loved one, from what I hear,” Giles explained for the second time.

I stopped dead in my tracks, my mind reeling.

I might have even more family.

There was nobody else listed on the lineage lines in the royal library. Maybe it was a family friend? Because another relative would have to be registered in the records, right? Who else was out there that I knew nothing about?

I could feel myself starting to panic, my lungs constricting, when Byn placed a steading hand on the small of my back, leading me a few paces away from where Giles stood.

In a hushed voice, Byn asked, “What can I do? What is it?” Concern was written all over his face, his brow creased.

“The Ashford family—that’s the family my mother descends from. Byn, if their reasoning for not attending holds true, and it’s a relative they’re taking care of, I could have even more family out there,” I said quietly, wringing my hands together to keep them from shaking.

What kind of experiences had I missed out on, not knowing I had more family than just Dimitri out in the world? What relationships could I have cultivated? Did they even know I existed?

Byn visibly reeled back in shock at my revelation.

“Really?” he asked. When I nodded, he said, “It’s just… I’ve grown up around the Ashfords. Everybody knows—or believes—their daughter died during the war, but I would have never made the connection…” he said, trailing off.

He looked at me for a moment, and took a second to analyze me. As though finally accepting this news, he said softly, “I’ve seen portraits of your mother when she was young, hung up in the Ashford house. You have her eye under there.” He cupped the right side of my face and ran a thumb over the edge of my eyepatch.

I set my lips in a firm line to keep them from quivering, and I shook my head as if I could physically clear the fog of questions building up in my mind.

“We can deal with this later. Right now, we have more important matters to attend to,” I said, squaring my shoulders and wings back.

Byn began to open his mouth to object, but I held out my hand before he could utter a word.

“Together,” I said.

He smiled softly as he slid his hand into mine. “Together,” he agreed.

Soon we arrived at the tall, delicately carved wooden doors, hand in hand. Giles opened them, announcing us as we entered.

Everybody in the room stood as we made our entrance, my heels clicking against the marble floor. I stared straight ahead, chin held high, at the high backed wooden chairs that were obviously meant for royalty. The Thorntier family crest was engraved on the high backs, and it wasn’t until Byn and I walked closer that I realized the one to the left had been carved specifically to accommodate wings.

My eyes flickered to Byn’s as he walked over to the chair and pulled it out for me to sit in. I knew he could feel the swell of emotion in my chest, the gratitude and joy and thankfulness. His eyes softened when his gaze met mine, and he dipped his head slightly in acknowledgment.

I sat, my dress pooling around me, and I allowed my wings to flare out slightly, taking up extra space in the altered chair.

Byn sat to my right, crossing one ankle over his knee. He waved a hand halfheartedly, and everybody in the room took this as a sign to be seated. For the first time since we stepped foot into the room, I allowed myself to subtly look around.

Like most rooms in The Haven, the room was crafted from different stones and a soft, honey colored wood. There were giant wooden pillars holding the ceiling up, carved to look like vines were climbing them. In the middle of the room hung a giant chandelier, ordained with pure, transparent crystals that I imagined were dug from the very earth we stood on. The round table before us was made of one solid piece of dark stone, but had countless small, clear crystals mixed into the stone. The crystals in the table reminded me of the chandelier.

Taking a look around the table, I couldn’t help but notice how many people were present. Most were males, some with their wives, but there were a few solo females present. With that, I was impressed. From what I understood, my father only allowed the males of the Northern families to represent themselves before him.

I noticed Teagan sitting on the other side of Byn, our three chairs the only ones with high backs and family crests on them. I dipped my chin ever so slightly in her direction, a sign of respect, and she bowed her head in return. Finally, after the room had been silent for what felt like ages, Byn spoke.

“I apologize for the delay of this meeting. I had other matters to attend to. Now, I have heard the talks of the people, and I can say simply that I am not pleased with what I’ve heard. I will give you allone opportunity to speak your mind, then I expect these matters to be put to rest, am I understood?”

The room murmured their understandings.

“Now, who would like to represent you all in voicing your concerns?” Byn asked.

I stole a look at my husband. His spine was as straight as a sword, shoulders rolled back, and chin held high. He reflected my own body language almost perfectly. If it weren’t for the tension I could see in the set of his shoulders, I would almost think he was comfortable leading meetings like this.

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