Chapter 23

I barely ate, then with the help of more eufori, I slept like I never remember doing before. When I woke up to Paisley sitting on the chair halfway across the room. I moved slowly, assessing how my body felt. It wasn’t top form, but I didn’t need to groan with each muscle movement. I was about the ask what time it was when I noticed her bobbing her head. She had earbuds in. I sat up slowly.

“Hey.” She pulled out the earbuds and got up.

I managed to get my feet over the side of the bed. “Your turn to babysit?”

She came over. “They’re all down in the cells trying to find out where that guard is.”

I sat there for a minute, deciding if I wanted to see how standing went. “Are they having any luck?”

“I haven’t heard anything yet.” She sighed. “How are you feeling?”

I shifted to the edge of the bed and stood up slowly. “Better, not ready to move fast though.”

“It sounded awful when the doctor gave you that stuff.”

I snorted. “Yeah, he won’t get any product endorsements from me.” I tried stretching one way, and then the other carefully. I definitely had a way to go. I stopped and looked at her. “Did I meet your great-grandfather last night?”

She grinned. “Yes, you did.” Tucking her phone into her jacket, she smiled. “It’s kind of why I’m here and not at the cells glaring through the glass.”

“Oh? The lab did the test?” My heart skipped a few beats as I stood there. Did I want it to be a positive match or whatever it was called?

She nodded. “Yes.” She grinned, “and they’re ninety-eight percent sure we’re sisters.” She bit her lip and looked at me.

Eyes wide, I stared back at her. “That’s…” I closed my mouth, then opened it again. “I don’t even know what to say.”

She nodded. “I know you think you’re it. Totally alone in this life, then…” she blew out a breath, “I’m really hoping my theory about our father is true.” She inhaled sharply, “and that he’s somewhere out there, because I have some serious questions for him.”

I nodded my head slowly. “Like, why they hell I was on my own at six.”

“I know.” She hugged her waist, then dropped her arms again and motioned up and down me, “but look at you. You beat the odds…” she hugged her waist again, “I’m dying to hug you, but I think we’ll let you recover before I scream and jump up and down.”

I laughed. “Yeah, jumping isn’t happening today.” I felt numb, completely blown away. I had a sister. “So, so they—or can they tell if we’re twins, or who is older?”

“I think so. The tech was saying something about more tests, but I ran out all giddy to tell Arius, then come here and wait to tell you.”

I stood there and looked at her, then waved my hand beside my head. “It hasn’t sunk it yet…I just…” I puffed up my cheeks, then blew out as my eyes teared up.

She smiled, with teary eyes and leaned forward, resting her forehead on mine.

We stood there looking at each other’s blurry eyes.

“Sisters.” I whispered. “I have a sister.”

“A pretty cool one.” She said quietly.

I grinned. “Definitely, a cool one.”

“My sister kicks ass like no other.” She said lifting her head away.

“She tries.” I answered, then blew out another breath. “This is pretty epic.”

She nodded her head quickly. “That we met in another realm and are mated to brothers?”

I blinked. “I was referring to the fact we’re sisters, but when you put it that way, it’s crazy.”

Mitz came rushing in the door, then stopped on the spot. “Well, you’re on your feet, that’s an improvement.”

I gave her a wide-eyed look. “Standing works, I haven’t tried anything else yet.”

She shook her head. “You shouldn’t just yet.” Going past us, she hurried into the closet. “I’ve got Emil taking you and introducing you to Rena.” She came back out carrying clothes. “A few track suits should be enough. You’re only over there for two days.” With a soft smile, she turned and went back in the closet.

Paisley looked at me. “You’re staying at Alona’s apartment for a few days?”

Before I could speak Mitz came back out. “She’s going there to recover and heal.” She smiled at Paisley, “and to make someone miss her.”

I looked back to Paisley, she grinned and nodded.

“Might make him think.” She glanced at Mitz. “Does he know you’re leaving?”

Mitz shook her head and started putting the clothes into a bag. “No. He went out early to check around the palace.”

Paisley’s gave me a sideways look. “This could get interesting.”

I was going to like having a sister, I decided. “Paisley and I are sisters.” I blurted out.

Mitz paused and looked from me to Paisley. “The results are back so soon?”

She nodded. “Yes. I came here and waited for her to wake up so I could tell her.”

Mitz looked so happy, she rushed over and touched Paisley’s cheek then mine. “I’m so pleased.” She took a deep breath and nodded. “Family can be your whole heart and soul.” She gave us a look, one eyebrow raised, “when they’re not annoying you to no end.” With a chuckle she went back over and picked up the bag and motioned to the clothes on the bed. “Emil will be here shortly if you’d like to freshen up and change, Autumn.”

Paisley leaned over and kissed my cheek. “Get some rest, sister, we have evil forces to beat in a few days.” With a smile she turned and walked out of the room.

~

My stomach clenched. I closed my eyes and took a few slow breaths.

“It does get better.” Emil said quietly.

I nodded and then looked at him. “I’m just sore from throwing up so much last night. You really do use every muscle in your body I think.”

“Mmm, I don’t think the body is designed for what goes in to come back that way.” He stepped away from the door and glanced down the hallway. “Rena?”

I stood there holding my bag and looked around. This place was nice. Like, nice nice, like I’d never seen with my own eyes before. It did fit Alona though, the sparse but eloquent décor.

“I’m here, dad.” A tall woman came out. Her hair was so blonde, it was almost white. “I’ve been standing in the bathroom waiting to see if breakfast wanted to stay or not.

Emil went over and kissed her forehead. “You look less transparent today.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “Wait a few hours, that will change.” She gave me a polite smile.

“Autumn is going to stay for a few days while she recuperates.”

I lifted my hand to say hi.

“Oh, are you hurt?” Her brows were drawn together.

Emil looked briefly at me. “It seems to be her natural way of being.” He motioned to the stool by the kitchen island, then held Rena’s elbow as she went to it. “I told you about Autumn.”

Rena’s dark brown eyes went huge as she looked at me. “You’re the one that got that red-headed demon?”

I grinned. “That’s what they tell me. I couldn’t see at the time.”

“It was a thing of beauty, you sent her flying to the pavement, face first.” Emil nodded.

“I’m so glad she’s out of the picture. There was something really off with her.” Rena said quietly.

I snorted. “That’s putting it politely.” I rubbed my hands over my ribs. “As soon as these heal, I’m hoping to find her friends and end this once and for all.”

She gave me a hopeful look. “I won’t feel safe again until it’s over.”

I gave her an abrupt nod. “We’ll get them. Every last one of them.”

Emil pulled his phone out of his pocket and looked at it. “I have to get back. They know where the guard is.”

“In a good way?” I leaned against the island.

He glanced up from typing. “He was ambushed on his way to his post. As far as they know he’s still alive, but there’s always a chance of an ambush.”

I sighed. “Wished I could be in on that.”

He shook his head. “You need to recover to get us into the palace.”

“Palace? A real palace?” Rena looked at me. “And you have to get them in?”

Emil smiled, “Autumn will have to explain. I’ll call you later.” He stepped back and pushed the button on his device, vanishing.

She shook her head. “Sends a shiver down my spine every time one of them just disappears.”

I sat on the other stool, still feeling weaker then I’d like. “Yeah it’s, uh, not that fun to be the one disappearing either.”

“I’ve done it once when my father found me on the island and brought me back here. I was a complete mess, so I’m not sure I even realized what had happened.”

I smirked. “Lucky you. My guts try to come out my throat every time I do it.”

She sighed, “my stomach acting up is a daily thing right now.”

I’d almost forgotten her situation. “How are you doing?”

“Managing.” She motioned to the counter. “The doctor told my father to get me vitamins, he came back with that.”

I turned to look. There had to fifteen bottles on the counter. “Guess he didn’t specify prenatal?”

“Oh, he got those too.” She grinned. “I’ll have enough vitamins for the next two years. Those are just the ones I don’t require at the moment; the rest are in the bedroom.”

I shrugged, “I guess he’s trying to be helpful.”

“Smothering more like, both him and my brothers. I love them, but…” She waved her hand. “So, the palace?”

I got up, took my shoes off and set them by the door. Stepped down into the sitting area, I looked at the white furniture and decided I’d sit in the chair. When I sat down, I noticed she’d followed. “I don’t even know where to begin to explain that.” I studied her. “You probably know more about this magic and stuff then I do.”

“Magic? I don’t know anything about magic, I’ve just recently discovered I’m related to the royal family in another realm.” Rena smiled. “I always knew there was a reason I was almost two hundred and fifty years old and still alive, but I never thought any of that would be part of it.”

I decided her story was probably going to be more interesting than mine.