Bleeding Ink

Chapter 64

Chapter 64

Adeena felt more exposed than she ever had in her life as she walked through the streets of Arloerin with Malik by her side. Every face turned to her as they passed, eyes widening, heads bowing, whispers following about how this female was none other than their beloved queen's twin sister and had also been Lady Addie Merlo and the Lady in White.

She was tired of having so many names. All she wanted to be known as was Adeena Lucerra Brandt now and finally be her true self.

It had only been a few hours since Fin's attack on the city. After cleaning up at the palace and changing into a more comfortable dress, she found Malik on the other side of her door just about to knock. Everyone else had apparently cleaned up and promptly fell asleep even in the middle of the afternoon, but the two of them were too wound up to. So, instead of hanging around, they decided to walk off that extra energy.

Adeena had to appreciate the Arloerin citizens resilience. Though they did lose some of their own, they still managed to pull together and clean up the city until it was just as bright and sparkling as it was before.

"I don't think I'll ever not be amazed by these people," Malik said to her as they passed one shop owner who was taking down a protect ward around the entire building hers was in. "Not just with what happened yesterday, but what almost all of them went through in the very beginning when Arloerin was just the ruins of a long forgotten city."

"Were most of them here then, too?" Adeena asked, genuinely curious. "I don't remember many from when I was here."

He nodded in answer. "The majority, yes. They helped Cleo not only secure it, but build it up into what it is now. Then you have those who sought refuge here from not only the other kingdoms here in Laria, but those who found themselves here from the Wilds in Ethran. And by the looks of it...they're going to have a few others joining in their ranks."

Adeena smiled, thinking of the home she'd already purchased in one of the neighborhoods closest to the southern gate, which allowed her easy access to the wide stretch of vineyard lands so she could spend time with Odanth. "Grandfather should be here in the next two weeks, but I haven't had the chance to tell my grandmother about him. I haven't had the chance to really talk to her either...and I'm nervous to."

"You don't have to be. She's missed you and Evander just as much as Cleo has. I want to stay here until that happens, too. And you can't forget about the Guild moving here. Unofficially, of course. Wonder how Cleo's going to take that since she always used to joke about seeing if the Lady in White would want to move her guild here instead of having to be under my mother's thumb."

Surely he couldn't have been serious. "What's a few assassins, huh?"

Malik snorted before leaning over to kiss the side of her head. "I'm going to miss you being around Krahzara, but I know you belong here with Cleo. You deserve it, Adeena. To get to know your sister and finally be able to stay by her side."

"It's not like you won't be around either," she told him with a wink.

He raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

A slow smile curled at the corner of her lips. "Now I know why you've been so fixated on Janan, even without the bond I know you two share. She's stunning."

Oh, would she always enjoy seeing Malik's face turn bright red. "Nothing's happened on that front."

"It's been almost twenty-five years since you met her...you think you've taken long enough to ask her out on one little date?"