Mixed Blood

Chapter 10

Rhia had taken her time to get to Egypt. Two thousand miles over two days gave her the time to think about everything Kate told her and figure out exactly what she wanted to ask. With the confirmation and she needed from Keoni and Ares, her return was not so leisurely. She flew fifteen hours straight, pushing herself harder and further than ever until she reached the gardens where Nova and Madeline lived in Paris and collapsed.

At first, the two women thought Rhia was drunk again. She was exhausted, distraught, and rambling, unable to hold up her own weight and barely able string together a comprehensible sentence. They half-carried, half-dragged her to the couch where, after chugging as much water as she could without vomiting, she told them everything.

Nolan was alive.

Even in her near-delusional state from physical and emotional exhaustion, Madeline believed every word. In just a moment, the fractured bond between mother and daughter was repaired. The ease of her acceptance and the fierce determination to believe sent Rhia tumbling into a fresh wave of tears. With her mother on her side, she really felt she could do anything. It was the first time she'd fallen into a completely sober, dreamless sleep in over four months.

Nova had been harder to convince. Rhia didn't take it personally. The canine shifter was a highly trained spy; it was her job to take in a lot of conflicting information and try to weed out what was and wasn't true. It was a bizarre contrast to Maddox's optimistic, almost boyish attitude and charm that somehow worked for their relationship.

She also knew that Nova was just protecting Madeline, who was often blindly supportive of her children. If Rhia believed Nolan was alive, then Madeline would too. If Maddox thought it was a good idea to inject himself into the Organization, she would support him. Nova, who had been living with Madeline since finding out she was pregnant, knew better than anyone how devesting false hope could be.

After sleeping a solid ten hours, Rhia, Madeline, and Nova sat down to talk with Bastian on speaker phone between them. Bastian was still working on deciphering the information on the USB drive Kate had given them but was confident he would have something to show them in a few more days. Madeline instantly offered to turn Rhia's make-up birthday dinner into more of a meeting where they could share the news and make a plan of action.

It was lucky that Atticus and Zesstra were still in Paris and were willing to come, and it was a downright miracle that Cameron, and Val were able to make time in their schedules to come. Rhia hadn't talked to Atticus since his call to tell her what happened, and she hadn't seen him since before that. She'd almost forgotten how big the polar bear was, and how much bigger he looked compared to Zesstra's tall, but otherwise petite form.

But it wasn't until the last of the Wes family arrived that a part of that depression slammed back into Rhia's chest. Cameron was a near-perfect copy of Nolan, from the intensity of his eyes, down to the tone of his voice. Anyone who didn't know the family would have mistaken them for brothers, rather than father and son. The biggest difference was the empty left sleeve where his arm used to be. An arm he'd lost because of her. "Hey, Rhia," he offered her a shaky smile when she opened the door. She could only imagine he felt the same pain seeing her again.

Instead of answering, she reached out to hug him. She hadn't realized how much she missed their friendship, especially when he returned her hug with a tight squeeze.

"My turn!" Val appeared out of nowhere and threw her arms around Rhia and a tighter-than necessary hug. "Oh, my god, it's so good to see you. I'm so sorry I couldn't invite you to the coronation, I really, really wanted to, but... you know, rules and traditions and whatever."

"It's fine," Rhia laughed and pulled back to hold her at arm's length. "Look at you, though. Not very royal, your majesty."

Val was dressed in knee-length leggings and an oversized t-shirt falling off her shoulders. Her long black hair thrown up in a messy bun, and a perfect face of makeup attempted to hide the dark shadows under her bright blue eyes. "I have not gotten to dress like a real person in weeks," she explained. "I swear, the money we waste on stylists..."