Chapter 70 Seventy

Chapter 70 Seventy
Amber
My mother was sitting in her rocking chair while my dad stood at the window, looking out in the country’s capital.
My mother’s head rose on instinct when the doors opened, and she instantly stood as we entered. Her eyes fell to our hands before she met my eyes again. Excitement, was it? I knew she was dying to marry me off, but I suspected a bit of resentment from her.
“Mother,” I greeted with a curtsy, and she nodded at me before looking at Drew. My dad turned at the sound of my voice, and his face lit up when he saw me.
“Queen Livia.” Drew bent his hand behind him and did a short bow. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” His voice was so smooth and natural that my mother raised an impressed eyebrow at him.
“Hi, Dad.” I broke my hold from Drew’s hand to give my father a hug. Unlike my mother, I didn’t have to greet him formally.
“Hello, my dear.” He chuckled as we pulled away, and I was happy to see that he seemed fine. “And who is this?” he asked as his gaze shifted to Drew.
“This is Drew,” I told them as I reconnected our hands. “I think it was best for me to officially introduce you to him.”
“Ah.” My dad nodded as he analyzed Drew. “What’s your last name, young man?”
“Bronmir, sir,” Drew told him, and I was surprised to see realization lighting his features. It scared me. Did he know?
“Bronmir?” Dad echoed. “Wonderful family, indeed. But I haven’t heard of the Bronmir’s in Consok for decades. Since I was a child, perhaps.”
“Well, I returned—I mean, I moved back a few years ago, alone.”
My dad nodded, seeming satisfied with the answer.
“Bronmir…” my mother mumbled, no doubt assessing the status of the family name. Thankfully, it seemed to have satisfied her. “Nice family indeed.” She beamed. “And you’re an Alpha, no?”
“Yes,” was all Drew said. He didn’t tell her what type of alpha, but I could sense the question coming.”
“His pack will merge with ours after marriage,” I said to avoid the question. “It’s already settled.”
‘Is it?’ Drew teased in our link. ‘Marriage… I like it. As for merging, my pack is already here so, should be easy enough—’
I discreetly elbowed him to cut off his teasing.
“You’re mates,” Dad said in awe. I knew it was extremely rare for a royal to find their mate. “You just mind-linked her.”
Mom’s eyes widened too as she threw her hand over her mouth. “Oh my gosh, Amber. Why didn’t you tell us! It doesn’t matter what pack you’re ruling, you’re destined mates! I…I can’t express how pleased I am, Amber.”
I was shocked. For the first time since the twins’ death, Mom seemed like… Mom.
Dad simply stared with a simper on his face. He somehow always knew…
I had no doubt he knew that Drew was a hybrid too, despite Drew’s efforts to mask that part of his scent. But that didn’t seem to bother him, and I was both concerned and relieved.
What did Dad truly know about hybrids?
“I am glad that Amber has finally chosen a suitable suitor, let alone her mate! Heavens, this is great,” Mom said. “It has not been easy trying to remain patient. Right, my dear?” She chuckled as she grabbed my father’s hand.
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
“I wish to tell you that I adore your daughter very much, and my intentions for her are nothing but pure,” Drew said, swooning my mother even more. I noticed, however, that my dad’s eyes were fixated on our intertwined fingers. But the more I followed his gaze, I noticed that it wasn’t our hands at all but my wrist.
I quickly pulled on the sleeve of my dress over my wrist, and his eyes finally shifted back up to my face.
I started to panic. He saw it. I knew he did. Even though Drew’s bite was only a scar now, the two very distinct marks were bright on my pale skin.
‘Relax, your mom is genuinely happy. I can see her aura, remember?’ Drew said in my mind, after sensing my panic.
‘And my dad?’
‘My gifts don’t work on you guys, remember?’
“Shit,” I cursed out loud, and my mother’s eyes widened at my ‘fowl’ language.
“Amber. . .” she warned, and I plastered an innocent smile on my face.
“I was only telling you to sit, mother. You look flustered.” I knew it was a lame save, but her smile returned nonetheless.
“Well, of course!” She beamed. “We have a wedding to plan.”
There it is —the wedding she had been talking about from the night of my ball. Except this time, it didn’t bother me at all. The thought of walking down the aisle to Drew was blissful.
“Well, I’m sure we can discuss it over dinner,” my dad interjected, seeming just as cheerful even after what I knew he saw. “It is a little late for dinner, but if you could join us, Drew, that would be lovely.”
“Of course,” Drew replied.
“I’ll go freshen up,” I said, and I curtsied once more to dismiss the conversation.
My dad knew something. I could see it in the way he watched Drew. I knew that he believed that hybrids were a myth, yet he knew so much about them. What if he only told me that to protect me? What if he actually knew of their existence and knew that Drew was one?
He certainly didn’t seem bothered by it, but the thought was undoubtedly budding in his mind.
Drew sensed my uneasiness but chose not to address it as I basically ran from the room. But then I remembered something, and I stopped instantly. I grabbed the paper from my purse and unfolded it as my eyes glanced over the words I wrote, which came from Alex and Aliah.
I smiled at it, seeing that it was the perfect gift for them.
“Um, mom, dad.” My mother seemed shocked when I called her ‘mom’. It has, after all, been years since I addressed her as such. I only ever called her ‘Mother’ nowadays.
I pulled my lip between my teeth as I stretched the paper towards them.
Their confused gazes rested on me as my mother took the wrinkled sheet.
“I know I haven’t been home much lately. Perhaps it was a bit unsettling for you, and I apologize, especially for not coming home last night. But Drew has been helping me to figure out what actually happened to Aliah and Alex since I know the events leading up to their deaths were unclear,” I said, and my mother’s eyes softened to a degree that I hadn’t seen in years.
“Amber, we knew what happened to them. You shouldn’t worry yourself with the whereabouts of their bodies.”
I nodded. “I know. But you see, Drew has very keen skills in discovering things, tracking and history. And he helped me find a place where they last settled before the… shipwreck. And I found this. Read it. I’m sure it offers comfort that you both had been longing for.”
They didn’t reply as their eyes swept over the paper, and I smiled at the satisfaction I felt, knowing they would have closure. As I watched them read it, I could see even more that Dad knew that they weren’t shipwrecked. Still, it offered him closure. I also saw something that I never thought I would see again. My mother cried.
As my dad held her while they read the letter together, I silently exited the room, leaving them to appreciate the moment by themselves.
And even without having it with me, I remembered each word I wrote as if it were planted in my memory. But I didn’t mind, because it left their peace with me too. They didn’t actually write that letter before they died, but they knew that their disappearance affected Mom and Dad too, so they wanted to offer them the same peace they gave me with a few words.
Dear Mom and Dad,
If you are reading this, then it means we didn’t return from our trip.
We know that you were aware that we had been doing something quite dangerous, as we were always gone from home. We are leaving today, and there is a high chance that we won’t return. But don’t be sad. Don’t spend the rest of your life wondering what happened to us. Just know that whatever we did, we did it for a good reason, and we were never only thinking about ourselves.
Find peace with our deaths, dear parents, for no matter what life we might venture into, we are always happy and at peace. Take care of Amber, for she needs you now more than ever, and we hope that someday, when this world is passed, we will be reunited once again.
We love you and will always be with you. Both now and forever.
Love, Alex and Aliah.