Page 105 of Whispers of the Elderoak

“I—” she looked at him. Truly looked. “Our eyes—” she sputtered. “They’re the same.”

Thorne nodded. “The woman in that portrait is Queen Aurelia.”

“Queen?” Ava asked. “Does that mean—” She couldn’t look away from Thorne, his eyes boring into hers.

She knew she was about to be hit with the answers she hadbeen looking for all this time. Her whole life she wanted to know who she was, why her mother had magic, why all the secrets. Here she was, on the precipice of the answers, heart racing as she waited for someone to speak. For someone to tell her what she so desperately needed to know, what that great truth that had been blooming inside of her was.

He nodded as his eyes filled with tears. Letting go of her hands, he gently cupped her face. “That you’re a princess,” he whispered. “And my sister.”

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Sister? Thorne was her brother? The King of Monterre was her brother.

She reeled, glancing around the table. Quinn was looking at her with surprise, Jorrar and Raine were beaming, and Casimir was shaking his head as if he couldn’t believe it.

Before she had a chance to speak, Thorne pulled her up from her chair into a hug, accepting her immediately.

“I’ve always longed for a sister,” he whispered as he pulled back and looked at her again.

She smiled, looking at him. Truly looking. They looked so much alike. How had she not seen it before? Though different shades, they both had red hair and the exact same eyes. Even their facial features were similar though he wasn’t as fair skinned as she and had no freckles.

“She told me to find you,” Ava whispered as they looked at each other.

“Who?”

“Mom,” she said as a tear rolled down her cheek. “She said to find the man from my dreams. That he would help me.”

Thorne pulled her tight again. Family. She had family. Alive. As the realization washed over her, she leaned into him again as he hugged her. The room was silent as the two siblings held each other and cried. For their grief, the pain of thinking they were truly alone. For the lost years they could have had, and for the future, they cried.

Though they didn’t even know each other, Ava could feel the bond deep within her. Could feel the truth being revealed as she held her brother. Herbrother.

They released each other, wiping their tears.

“We still have unanswered questions,” Thorne said and gestured for her to sit back down. With everyone seated at the table, he began. “Why are you still in your human form even though you’re here? Why don’t you have magic?”

Ava shook her head. “I don’t know. My—our—grandfather’s journal briefly mentioned a prophecy. But it didn’t say anything else.”

“A prophecy?” asked Raine. “We’ve never heard anything about a prophecy.”

“Alright,” replied Thorne. “Do you know why Deidamia was torturing you? Was it for information?”

“No,” she said. “They were trying to induce my great tribulation or whatever it’s called.”

“That’s horrific. I’m so sorry.” Anger flashed in his eyes. “But I don’t think that would have worked. Since you’re technically still human…” He tapped his fingers on the table. “Anything else?”

“They wanted my blood to open more portals. To bring in more of their army but I think I needed more magic to do that.”

“You wouldn’t be strong enough yet to create new portals,” said Jorrar. “Only activate established ones.”

“Are there any more other than the one I came through?” she asked.

“None that we’re aware of,” said Thorne.

“So… what now?” asked Ava.

“Now we go visit Nelida,” he replied.

“Who’s Nelida?” she asked.

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