Chapter 234

Chapter 234
Lyrien's POV

The Ken Jungle seemed different on our journey back—less threatening, somehow. Even with Morgravia in tow, her hands bound by Alaric's shimmering elfin restraints that pulsed with green energy whenever she so much as twitched, I felt a strange sense of triumph. Not joy, exactly. The events at the cave had left me too shaken for that. Dying, even temporarily, tends to rearrange one's priorities.

"How much farther?" Kael asked, his arm still supporting Lorcan despite my brother's halfhearted protests.

I gestured ahead. "Another mile or so. We'll see the boundary markers soon."

Lorcan winced as he stepped over a fallen log. "I don't need a babysitter," he muttered, though he made no real effort to pull away from Kael's support.

"Consider me a walking crutch with superior conversational skills," Kael replied with a smirk that somehow made Lorcan snort in reluctant amusement.

Behind us, Alaric maintained a vigilant watch over Morgravia. The witch's expression remained blank, but her eyes burned with hatred whenever they landed on me. The multiple layers of binding spells Alaric had woven around her seemed to be holding, but I couldn't help glancing back every few minutes, half-expecting to see her free and ready to strike.

"She's not going anywhere," Alaric assured me, his voice low. "The restraints would alert me to even a flicker of her magic."

I nodded but didn't slow my pace. I wouldn't feel safe until we were behind the protective wards of Blackwood Estate—until I could see with my own eyes that everyone I loved was unharmed.

As we crested the final hill, the sprawling grounds of home came into view. The afternoon sun caught the windows of the main house, making them gleam like beckons. For all the pain and complications of the past months, the sight still made my chest tighten with emotion.

"Home," I whispered.

We had barely crossed the boundary line when I spotted a small figure racing toward us across the lawn. Pury's translucent wings caught the sunlight, sending prism-like reflections dancing across the grass as she flew straight for us.

"Lorcan!" she cried, her voice breaking as she slammed into my brother with enough force that Kael had to steady them both.

Tears streamed down her face as she touched Lorcan's face, his shoulders, his arms—as if confirming he was real. "They said—they felt—the pack bond wavered. They thought you might be—"

"I'm okay," Lorcan said softly, wrapping his free arm around her. "I'm okay now."

The tenderness in my brother's voice was so unlike his usual gruff manner that I had to look away, feeling like an intruder on something private.

My attention was drawn to four figures rushing down from the main house. Even at a distance, I recognized them immediately—Ara's gentle gait, Barry's military-precise stride, and Devin's powerful, Alpha presence leading the way. But it was the fourth figure that made my heart clench—my mother Lina, her long hair streaming behind her as she ran faster than I'd seen her move in years, her blue eyes wide with a mixture of panic and hope.

"My babies!" Mom reached us first, somehow managing to pull both Lorcan and me into her arms despite our height difference. Her familiar scent—wildflowers and home—washed over me, and I felt myself crumble a little. There's something about a mother's embrace that can break through even the strongest facades.

"Mom," I whispered, burying my face in her shoulder for just a moment. "We're okay."

She pulled back, her hands framing my face as her eyes searched mine. Those once-silver eyes, now blue since she'd given up her powers, filled with tears. "I felt it. We all did. My heart—it twisted, Lyri. For a moment, you were gone."

I couldn't find the words to tell her she was right. That I had died, if only temporarily. Before I could formulate a response, Ara, Barry, and Devin reached us, enveloping us in a group embrace.

"Thank the gods," Ara murmured, his lean frame trembling slightly as he held us.

Barry's familiar woodsy scent mixed with the more dominant Alpha pheromones of Devin created a smell that instantly transported me back to childhood—to feeling protected and loved.

"You're safe," Barry murmured against my hair. "You're both safe."

Mom kept one arm firmly around me as she reached to touch Lorcan's face with her free hand. "My son," she whispered. The simple phrase carried the weight of days of fear.

Devin pulled back first, his Alpha persona taking precedence as he assessed the situation. His eyes narrowed at the sight of Morgravia.

"Is that—?"

"Yes," I said. "We captured her. It's over... for now."

Mom's grip on me tightened as she looked at the witch. A hardness I rarely saw flashed across her face. "She's the one who hurt my children?"

"Mom," I said quietly, squeezing her hand. "We've got her contained."

Devin nodded once, then turned to shout orders to several pack members who had followed them down. "Double the perimeter patrols! I want six guards on rotation around the prisoner at all times!"

While Devin organized security, Ara moved to check on Lorcan. Mom reluctantly released her hold on me to hover anxiously near Lorcan.

"Dad Carl?" I asked Barry, suddenly afraid.

Barry's expression softened. "In his room. The sickness hasn't improved, but he's been asking for you since he heard the disturbance in the pack bond. He's waiting."

More family members spilled from the house—my younger siblings racing across the lawn. Everen led the charge with his typical enthusiasm, followed closely by Jarek. Elowen and Thalia weren't far behind, their identical expressions of relief visible even from a distance. Their faces lit with joy, tears streaming freely as they spotted us returning. Despite our age differences, the bond between all six of us had always been unbreakable—a connection that transcended even the strongest pack bonds.

In the midst of the reunion chaos, I glanced back to find both Kael and Alaric standing slightly apart, watching the scene with different expressions. Kael seemed amused and strangely comfortable, while Alaric maintained a respectful distance, his face carefully neutral despite the warmth in his eyes when they met mine.

Mom followed my gaze, her eyes narrowing slightly as she assessed our companions. I could practically see her maternal instincts cataloging potential threats and allies. She leaned close to me, whispering, "Your knights? Really, Lyri?"

"Mom," I hissed, feeling my cheeks heat.

She gave me a look that said we'd be having a longer conversation later, then turned to include our guests. "Thank you both for bringing my children home," she said formally, though her eyes remained cautious.

I was about to make proper introductions when Lorcan's voice rose above the chatter.