Page 152 of Black Wing and Shadows
Aeliana stepped closer, studying my face like she’d known me all her life. “You found her before you turned old and crusty. And she’s just as beautiful as Auntie said.”
I could feel the heat rushing to my cheeks—thankfully, they were already red from the cold. Before I could find words, the others piled in.
Theodora, tall and poised in her haste, folded her arms but smiled warmly. “So, you finally brought her home. About time.”
Arkin, broad-shouldered and grinning, elbowed Zane hard enough to make me wince. “She’s real. Gods, I thought you and Auntie were bullshitting us.”
“Arkin,” Zane warned, though his mouth twitched.
Helena, all sharp eyes and restless energy, circled me like she was already sizing me for sparring lessons. “She doesn’t look like she’d put up with your brooding.”
“I don’t,” I said before I could stop myself. Helena barked out a laugh.
Adrian, gangly but quick with a boyish grin, gave me a dramatic bow. “Welcome to the madhouse.”
Elizabeth, the smallest, peeked around her siblings, wide-eyed and clutching the hem of Theodora’s coat. “She’s pretty,” she whispered, shy as a bird.
My face burned. I had no idea what to say to any of them, their energy sweeping me up before I could catch my balance. And then the crowd shifted.
The air seemed to change—sharper, heavier—as the duke and duchess stepped into the courtyard.
The duke of the Veil of Vultures, Zane’s father, was as imposing as the palace itself, his black cloak edged in silver, his pale eyes cutting through the chaos with a single sweep. Beside him, the Duchess moved with quiet grace, her dark hair streaked with silver, her expression softer but no less commanding. Zane definitely favored his father, while his mother had been beautiful beyond words, but I could see where Zane got his attractive stoic features.
The siblings all turned toward him, their smiles dimming a little, like they were also unsure of how this would go.
Zane’s hand pressed against the small of my back.“He’s really amazing, past his eyes of death,”he murmured down the bond.
My heart was racing, knees weak—as the duke’s gaze settled right on me. Every fear and worry ran through my mind like a toddler on sugar. How would he react to my name? Would he know who I was? Would blame be given instantly? Zane’s anger was triggered when the pieces finally fell into place. Gods, this could end so fucking poorly. I felt my panic rising, the weight of his gaze pressing like stone. For half a heartbeat, my breath was lost.
“Breathe, Auri… your anxiety is overwhelming me, and I am not close,”Esme said.
Suddenly, training—and instinct—took over.
I stepped forward, dipping low into a bow, my braid sliding over my shoulder. “Duke Braegon. Duchess.” My voice steady though my knees trembled.
Silence stretched.
When I dared to lift my eyes, the duke of the Veil of Vultures had been studying me with that pale, merciless stare I’d come to dread at the college. But there was something different now—not cold calculation, but something quieter.
“Rise, young lady,” he said. His voice had been deep, commanding, but there had been no edge to it. “No need for formality here. You are welcome.”
The knot in my chest loosened just a fraction. I straightened slowly, my pulse hammering in my ears.
The Duchess stepped forward, her presence softer but no less powerful. She reached out, taking my hand between hers, her eyes warm in a way that startled me.
“Zane’s Anam Cara,” she said, the words carrying like a blessing. “We have waited for you far longer than you realize. This is your home as much as his.”
Heat pricked the back of my eyes, unexpected and sharp. Gods, I hadn’t known how much I needed to hear that until the words wrapped around me. Zane’s hand brushed mine again, grounding, steady. The bond thrummed with quiet pride, with relief.
“Father. Mother. This is Auri—Auriella Blackcreek.”
I braced myself—for questions, for narrowed eyes, for disbelief.
But none of that came.
The duke inclined his head, expression as implacable as stone. “Hello, Auri.”
I blinked, waiting for the other foot to drop. “Hi!” It was all I could get out.
