Page 50 of Guardian of Shadows

“Nekoma of Autumnvale, My Queen.”

“Rise, Nekoma, but keep your hands where I can see them.”

Nekoma did as commanded with his hands splayed at his sides.

“How did you disappear?” Yari asked.

“The same way Elledan can. I called upon the shadows,” he admitted, outing Elle’s gift at the same time.

Yari narrowed her eyes at Elle. “Is that true?”

“Tell her it is.”

“It is,” Tony responded on Elle’s behalf. “And Nekoma has proven to us that he is also Novus the raven.”

Queen Zarina glanced at Elle, then back to Nekoma. “Explain yourself.”

Nekoma told her the same thing he’d already explained to everyone else.

“Elledan, do you believe this to be true?”

“She does, Queen Zarina. Nekoma was just about to look at the sigil to see if he could remove it,” Tony said.

“Nekoma of Autumnvale, I need your word that you will not harm Elledan.”

Nekoma placed his hand on his chest. “I will not harm Elledan, my sister. I only want to help her, My Queen.”

“Then you may proceed.” Yari took a step toward Elle, but the Queen’s hand on her arm stopped her.

Nekoma inclined his head, then climbed the steps. When he was close enough, he knelt beside Elle and studied the sigil. “I need to place my hand on her arm.” When Tony nodded, Nekoma pressed his large palm against the sigil and closed his eyes. Warmth spread through the mark, but it wasn’t unpleasant. It was akin to the energy Lilly used to ease the pain. When Nekoma removed his hand, the sigil was gone.

“You did it!” He’d obviously removed the paralysis as well, because Elle was able to speak. Without thinking, she awkwardly threw her arms around her friend. Her brother. “Thank you, Nekoma.”

Nekoma returned the embrace until Tony asked, “Can you heal her face?”

“I can.” Nekoma placed his palm against the bruising, and within seconds, the pain was gone, and Elle assumed her skin was no longer bruised.

“We owe you our gratitude.” Tony held out his hand, and Nekoma stared at it.

“He wants to shake your hand,” Elle explained. When her brother didn’t move, Elle placed her hand in Tony’s and shook so he would get the gesture. Nekoma then shook Tony’s hand.

“It is done, then?” Queen Zarina asked.

“The sigil is gone, so I can only presume the curse is as well,” Elle said.

“Nekoma of Autumnvale, you have honored the fae this day. Elledan, if you would make the introductions please?”

“Oh. Yes, of course.” Elle told the Queen who everyone was, and when she got to her siblings, she couldn’t sit still any longer. “Everyone, these are my siblings, Yari and Thran, royal guardians to the prince and princess.”

“Come here, Elle.” Thran opened his arms, and Elle stood, wobbling slightly. Tony steadied her before slipping her arm back into her parka. He then escorted her down the steps to where her brother waited. They embraced for the first time in more than fourteen years. Instead of releasing her, Thran kept his hands on her upper arms, grinning. “I always knew you were the best of us. When I saw you on the hill fighting against the Und?nthú instead of with them, I said to myself, ‘That’s my sister.’ I have only been prouder one time in my life, and that was when Yari and I were chosen for the royal guard.”

“Speaking of the royals, who’s watching Cassi and Rhoan?” Elle asked.

Yari joined them, wrapping her arm around Elle’s shoulder. “They’re both in Norway surrounded by a host of Gargoyles.”

Thran looked around at Tony’s family. “As are you. You’ve chosen well, Little Sister.”

Queen Zarina approached them. “Now that Elledan is safe, I need to return to Evyndral.” She reached out and touched Yari’s pendant. “You may return to Norway when you are ready. No need to call on me this time.”

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