Page 67 of Realms of Shadow and Sun

“You better not hurt her, Phillippe Snowden. She's an amazing friend and a sweet person.”

Phillippe's eyes looked wistful. “Trust me, Renya,” he said, turning to look forward once again. “She's far more likely to hurt me.”

It was almost morning by the time they arrived in the village. Grayden insisted that they ride through the night, worried that by this point, Cressida would have been to the Sun Realm and learned that Renya wasn't there. The Snow Lands was the next logical place he would take her. There had been a blizzard while they were in the Spring Lands, and the thick snow at least covered their tracks.

Once they reached the village, Cyrus began looking around excitedly. “I haven't been here since I was a young man,” he said. “Hardly anything has changed.”

Renya was thrilled to see the village was indeed the same as she left it. After the destruction that occurred in the Twilight Kingdom, she was fearful for the little town of Wesalie, but it was the same as the last time she saw it, the night of the Sky Lights Festival. Was it really that long ago? So much had changed since she and Grayden watched the twinkling lights dance across the dark sky.

“Do you think Selenia and Sion have arrived already?” she asked Grayden, eager to see both of them. She missed Selenia terribly, and she was still so worried about the young girl, especially after Jurel's death.

“I'm hopeful that they are. As long as they didn't encounter any significant delays, they should have arrived a couple of days ago.”

They approached the courtyard, and everything was as Renya remembered. The air still smelled of pine, a smell that permeated from Grayden at all times no matter how far away from his lands he was.

Grayden entered first, Renya behind him and Cyrus and Phillippe taking up the rear. From her view, she could see Tumwalt racing towards Grayden. Renya figured he had much to talk to Grayden about, but she was still hesitant on how to act around him after he accused her of bewitching Grayden. A woman was walking directly behind him, shouting at him, but Renya couldn't make out the words she was saying, but that didn't matter.

It was her aunt.

“Renya!” Aunt Agatha cried, running past Tumwalt and Grayden to the horse carrying Renya.

Renya's heart nearly burst at seeing her aunt. Although she still hadn't completely forgiven her for concealing Renya's identity for so long, she was still the first family Renya ever knew. Plus, she now understood that Aunt Agatha gave up her entire life in this world to keep Renya safe.

Renya half-fell off of her mount, eager to hold her aunt in her arms, as if to reassure herself that this was all real. The second her feet hit the cobblestones, she was pressed into a giant hug, tears streaming down her face as her aunt cooed in her ear.

“Sunshine! Oh, my dear! I never thought I'd see you again!”

Renya sobbed, unable to contain her relief. She could feel Grayden's relief too, down through their bond.

Oh god. She would have to tell her aunt she was engaged. And fated to Grayden. She gulped and tried to hide her ring, wanting to wait until the time was right to tell her aunt.

Aunt Agatha let her go and held her at arm's length while Grayden dismounted and handed over their horses to a waiting groom. Phillippe and Cyrus did the same.

“Sunshine, I can feel your power radiating from you! I'm sorry we locked your magic, it was the only way to keep you safe—”

“It's okay. Really, I understand why you and my father did what you did.”

Renya watched Agatha swallow hard and then look at Cyrus.

“You told her?”

Cyrus chuckled. “It's good to see you again too, Agatha.”

Agatha ignored his greeting. “She knows you're her father...and her mother—”

“Is Cressida,” Renya finished. “Yes, unfortunately I know.”

Renya could see Tumwalt greet Grayden while she was talking to her aunt.

“Sunshine, I—”

Before Agatha could finish, a thunderous roar ripped through the courtyard and Beauty landed right behind the horses, who reared up and ran out of the courtyard, the young grooms following behind, their cries echoing off of the stone walls of the courtyard.

Aunt Agatha looked surprised, but not stunned. Tumwalt, on the other hand, fainted.

Renya looked around sheepishly. “Oh yeah, I have a dragon now.”

Agatha raised her eyebrows as Beauty pranced over to Renya's side, nudging her arm for a pat.

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