Page 224 of The Kingdom's Reckoning
Right before they met the cliffs, Graeson shot up, soaring through the air and beating the wave up the cliff. As the wind smacked into her, Kallie squeezed her eyes closed, unable to keep them open. She knew when they surpassed the cliffs the moment her weight shifted back and her hair flew into her face.
Opening her eyes, Kallie sat up and took in the sight before her. Graeson glided over the Pontian plains. The lavender field was in full bloom, its floral aroma mixing with the salt and immediately releasing the tension in her shoulders from the long trip. The stone castle peaked over the hill, and her attention flicked to the clearing right before it, where she spotted several small specks. As they approached, those specks took shape, morphing into familiar figures. Graeson tipped his head up and roared, a small streak of fire pouring from his mouth in greeting.
Kallie rolled her eyes at the ostentatious spectacle. But as the smoke cleared and she saw a tiny figure bouncing with excitement, her annoyance melted away.
Graeson spread out his wings, slowing their descent. His feet landed in the center of the clearing, bringing them to a smooth stop.
Kallie held her breath, preparing for the inevitable?—
Crash.
Kallie coughed as Nyrri’s less than graceful landing kicked up a cloud of sand. As she swatted at the debris, a fit of giggles sounded to her right.
Dani’s voice boomed across the field. "Finnley! What did I say about waiting until we gave you the all-clear?"
Kallie chuckled and unclasped the belt. She crawled out of the saddle and carefully stood. Holding out her arms for balance, she gave her legs a moment to adjust before shuffling toward Graeson’s tail and hurrying down it. The moment her feet hit the sand, someone swooped her up into a giant hug. The world spun around her.
"It’s been too long, sister," Terin said as he placed her back on her toes.
"We were here two months ago," Kallie said, her vision still spinning.
"Yes, but you were only here for a week that time." He ruffled her hair.
Rolling her eyes, she snatched her brother’s wrist and dipped under his arm, escaping his torment. She grabbed the bag beside Graeson’s foot and tossed it at Terin, who caught it in one hand. "Well, we’re here longer this time," she said.
"Thank goodness for that," Dani said, coming up behind Kallie and squeezing her arm with a warm smile. "Finnley hasn’t stopped whining since Nyrri left."
A weight knocked into Kallie, and small arms wrapped around her leg, squeezing her tightly.
Beaming, Kallie bent down, untangled Finnley from her leg, and hoisted the child into her arms. "How’s my favorite princess?"
Finnley wrapped her arms around Kallie’s neck, nearly choking Kallie. Light brunette curls flew into her mouth as Finnley squeezed her. Kallie tried to brush the strands away while maintaining her hold on the child, but failed. Finnley’s curls were nearly as uncontrollable as she was.
Finnley leaned back and looked up at Kallie with wide hazel eyes. "Mom said I get to wear a pretty dress!"
Kallie booped her on the tip of her nose. "That’s right."
"She also said I get to ride Nyrri down the aisle!"
"Did she now?" Kallie asked, peering at Dani, who rolled her eyes at her child’s blatant lie. "And did Grandma Essie approve of this?"
"She said to ask Uncle Gray."
Kallie narrowed her eyes at her niece, whose cheeks turned bright pink. "Did she, Finnie?"
Finnley pursed her lips and slumped against Kallie’s chest. "No," she mumbled, disappointed she was caught.
Kallie laughed. Graeson would have given Finnley anything she asked, and the child knew it. ButEsmeray would throw a fit if Nyrri was brought inside the castle. There was no way the drakonis would fit down the aisle. Even if she could, Nyrri would not be able to sit still for the entire ceremony. It was a recipe for disaster.
"Where’s my little dragon?"
Finnley popped her head back up and squirmed against Kallie until Kallie had to put her down to keep her from falling. The moment her feet hit the ground, Finnley sprinted towardGraeson, who had already shifted and thrown on a pair of trousers.
As Graeson swept Finnley up into his arms, Kallie’s attention turned to the rest of the group, who came to welcome them. She smiled and waved at Moris and Sylvia, then finally turned her attention to the woman standing to the side, patiently waiting with her hands folded in front of her lap. When their gazes locked, they strolled towards each other and pulled one another into an embrace.
Kallie sighed into Esmeray’s hair, which smelled of lavender and mint. She had missed her mother’s hugs.
After the war ended, it took Kallie some time to see Esmeray—more time than her mother probably would have liked. But Kallie had to sort through too many things. Their reunion was awkward at best, and it had taken them a while to familiarize themselves with each other again. Although Kallie understood the sacrifices her mother had to make, it was hard to forgive her. Esmeray, thankfully, understood that and gave Kallie the space she needed.
