Chapter 28
Liri waited until the Queen of Fa Terra went over to speak with her daughter and then moved quickly to her aunt before someone else interrupted. “Auntie Ama?”
“Liri,” she inhaled deeply and waved her hand around, “isn’t this wonderful? All the realms together again.”
Liri glanced around, “Yes, it’s great that they’re all her and aware of everything.”
“I haven’t felt this positive about things in a very long time.” She smiled at her and then studied her for a moment. “You have that look, niece, the one that says you need to talk to me.” She raised one perfect eyebrow at her, “What have you done? Or want to do?”
Liri dropped her head down for a moment. She had that coming. Most of her life had been her aunt and cousins running interference for her, so her mother wasn’t aware of what she was really doing. “I haven’t done anything this time, but I do need to speak with you.”
“Oh,” her aunt took her elbow and steered them away from the others, “I can tell it’s serious, or you would have blurted it out by now.” She motioned to the chairs the royals had been sitting in.
Liri sat down and waited for her aunt to sit. “I found my other,” she whispered, not wanting anyone else to hear.
“That’s wonderful.” Her Aunt’s smile beamed at her. “Isn’t it?”
“Well, I suppose, considering it’s so rare.” She wanted to tell her that it wouldn’t be a one-in-a-billion chance now that they knew what they did, but she didn’t. “It’s complicated though.”
“Matters of the heart usually are.” She smiled, “Your uncle and I are true mates. However, I always had a crush on him before we knew.” Clasping her hand in her lap, she sat there perfectly poised and looked at her, Tell me.”
Liri nodded and then huffed out a breath. “He’s from Alterealm,” she frowned for a moment, “well, he’s part Alterealm and part human.”
“Oh my.” Her aunt whispered. “My sister is going to have a fit.”
Liri cringed. “Yes.” Leaning closer, she glanced around to see if anyone else was near. “What do I do?” She sat back again. “He’s aware as well, and just as,” she waved her hand around, “he doesn’t want to rush it…”
“I think that’s wise of him,” she looked over at her mate, “considering everything that is going on right now.”
Liri nodded.
“What do you want to do?”
Opening her mouth, Liri paused and closed it again. What did she want to do? “I’m not sure. Part of me wants to go back to Solrelm and run around shouting it.”
Her aunt’s mouth quirked. “Let’s not do that.” She cringed. “I’m actually shocked that Bastian hasn’t done something like that yet.”
Liri grinned. “I’m sure he wants to.” She cleared her throat, “he knows bout Abraham and me and told us to wait.”
Her aunt looked around, “Abraham, which one is he?”
“Oh, he’s outside the circle right now with the guards.”
“He’s a guard?”
There was no judgemental look on her face. “No, well, yes.” Liri frowned, “sort of. He’s part of the royal guard. His father is Prince Emil.”
“Oh. The lost brother.” She leaned closer. “Trendan told me about him.” She turned and looked around, “does he look like his father? They’re all so big and quite handsome.”
Liri looked around. “Um, he’s big. I think they all are. He looks like his Uncle Michael.”
“Lucky you, Aliria.”
Her aunt’s tone and smile made Liri’s cheeks heat, “what do I do, Aunt Ama?”
Her aunt sobered for a moment before she answered. “Before Bastian found Nova, I would have said you must wait. We must be careful,” she nodded, “but now, I think you should follow your heart, Liri. You are truly blessed and very lucky to have found your true other, and I don’t think you should waste years pondering it.”
“My mother…”
“I’ll deal with Bella when the time comes.”
Liri nodded. “If I—we,” her cheek heated again, “I won’t be able to hide it when I’m around our people or go back to Solrelm.”
The queen nodded slowly, a focused look on her face, “It is quite complicated, isn’t it? You do what you must, dear. You know I will always have your back. Always.” Her eyes teared up, “just think, soon our women will have choices that they have never had—not as long as I can remember.” She squeezed Liri’s hand. “You and my sons are doing the realm the greatest service ever, finding those responsible” She squeezed it again, “I am over the moon that you have found your other.”
Uncle Os came walking toward him, “I am only afraid of a few things in life, and you two with your heads together and talking in whispers is one of them. He smirked, “What mess do I have to hide or clean up now?”
Aunt Ama wiped her hand across her eyes, “Nothing bad, I promise.”
“Mmhmm.” He squatted beside her, “There are tears in your eyes, my love.”
“Happy ones. I will tell you everything when we’re home.”
“Okay,” He leaned over and kissed her cheek softly before looking at Liri, “Is everything all right?”
Liri stood up, “yes. For once, I can say that.” She grinned, “I should go see if I’m needed for anything.” She squeezed her hands together, “I’m very excited to be helping.”
“I’m sure we’ll have answers soon, Liri.” He stood up but continued to hold his mate’s hand, “I heard about your flight.”
Liri grinned, “it was amazing.”
“I’m sure it was, but let’s not go on any planes for a while, hmm? I don’t need to explain to your parents that you jumped out of a plane.”
Liri smirked, “I don’t plan on flying anytime soon.” Which was disappointing.
“Good.” He turned when the prince and princess from Aridon started toward them. “It’s a wonder, all the realms together again.”
Liri nodded, bowed her head to them both, and turned to find one of the Alterealm princesses. She needed to get back to Nova’s. She had a lot to think about and a lot of work to do to unravel a very old puzzle.