Page 106 of A Rose Among Snakes

My mother’s gaze went wide and she rolled her lips together.

“Are you getting married?” Ambrelle asked, her voice becoming shrill. The twins clapped their hands, but a brusque voice broke through the commotion.

“Who’s getting married?”

I spun around and my breath caught in my throat.

If it had been good to see Ambrelle, it was nothing compared to how it felt to see my brother healthy and thriving. Fuzzy warmth radiated throughout my body and tears welled. We locked eyes and before I knew it, we were crossing the room to hug each other. He seemed taller, and he had put more muscle on in thetwo months I was gone. Pulling back, his face was flushed and his gold-brown eyes were bright.

He cleared his throat and wrinkled his nose. “What happened to you?”

“I’ve been wondering that myself,” my mother chimed in. Then she cocked her head to the side. “What are you doing here, Jem?”

“I heard Mihrra was home.”

“Word travels fast,” Velian muttered.

I gave him a look saying,you have no idea.

Jehiam squinted over my shoulder, clenching his jaw as he drew up straighter and puffed his chest out.

“And you are?” he asked.

Velian approached with a barely disguised smirk.

“Velian Blaise.” He offered his hand to Jem, who took it without breaking his stare. He was a couple of inches shorter than Velian, but he made it clear he wasn’t intimidated.

“And who are you to my sister?”

“I believe my earlier question is more important, Jem,” Ambrelle interjected, beaming even as she tapped her foot.

I interlocked my fingers with Velian’s. “I don’t even know where to begin.” Velian squeezed my hand, and my face flushed. “Maybe we should have a seat.”

My mother turned toward the twins. “Why don’t you two go play outside for a little?” They began whining and she held up her hand. “There’s a cake cooling and you can have some when you come back in.”

Their grumbles turned to shared grins as they ran out the back door.

Velian surprised me by calling after them, “Wait for me.”

I wanted to tell him to stay with me, but he shot me a wink over his shoulder before slipping out the door with the twins.

“Out with it!” Ambrelle cried.

With a heavy sigh, I sat in a chair across from the three of them and started from the ball. I explained Kezara’s disappearance and our adventure to find her, watching their eyes widen in shock, especially when I told them about the king—what caused my injuries and how I’d almost died.

“How could you be so foolish?” my mother scolded, tears lining her eyes.

Jehiam waved a hand in dismissal. “Clearly she’s fine. Did you get any answers about Father?”

My mother’s jaw dropped. “Mihrra, don’t tell me that’s why you took this job.”

I took a deep breath and nodded. “It’s what initially drew me to it, but then I realized it was too good an opportunity to turn down.” My mother buried her face in her hands and I knew it was time to get to the ugly part. “Mother, were you aware of what Father did for work?”

She frowned and said, “He told me it was better that I didn’t ask questions, but that he was a hired hand to a rich mercenary.”

I bit my tongue, holding back a bitter remark.

Instead, I shared with them the Blaise family legacy and what an Enforcer was, grimacing as I informed them what our fatherdid for Velshan Blaise. I told them about how he was murdered by the king for protecting our village from Ziffem, watching as tears streamed down all their faces.

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