A Court of Stars and Memories

81. Hope of Closure

    The wards had already been altered by the time they arrived at the border of the Winter Court, allowing Azriel to carry their group onward to Nivis with barely a moment's interruption.

    When the shadows peeled back, Mitsi found herself standing near the gates at the edge of the grounds of Kallias' palace. She and Mina wasted no time entering the grounds and hurrying up the pathway.

    None of the guards on duty stopped them, although they cast wary looks at Azriel, Seren, Lysander and Corbin. Mitsi merely tightened her grip on Lysander's hand and glared at the guards while they passed.

    The palace doors opened seconds before they arrived and Colette and Viviane rushed out. "Thank goodness you're here." Viviane's relief was palpable in her tone.

    "And safe." Colette brushed past her and pulled Mina and Mitsi into a tight embrace.

    "We're fine, but what about you?" Mina asked, already breaking out of Colette's hold. "Micah's note said you and Ellie were attacked."

    She looked their mother over and Mitsi did the same. Colette didn't seem injured, although a dark bruise stained the pale skin of her temple.

    "Ellie and I are fine. It's the children we're worried about. Come." Colette took them each by the hand and guided them inside.

    Mitsi glanced over her shoulder to see Viviane gesturing for the others to follow. She caught Lysander's eye for a heartbeat and his soothing touch crossed the Bond. When she turned back, she found Colette watching her, a tentative smile on her lips.

    "It seems you brought some good news with you," she said. "I'm just sorry we might not be able to fully appreciate it."

    "We can discuss it later," Mitsi assured her. "Lia and Hollis are our priority right now."

    Colette squeezed her hand, then turned into Kallias' office. The High Lord looked up from where he, Wynter, and Micah had been studying a large map stretched across his desk. Ellie sat in a chair nearby, staring vacantly into the crackling fireplace.

    She appeared a little more battered than Colette, with her scarred cheek being visibly swollen and a dark ring curling around her moon-white eye. Cyrus hovered close beside her, his attention divided between Ellie and the window where he was keeping watch.

    "Ellie?" Mitsi called, breaking away from Colette and approaching her cousin. Ellie perked up and rose, relief flooding her one crystal blue eye. Mitsi hugged her tightly. "Are you all right?"

    "I'll be fine," Ellie answered. "Thank you for coming, although after what happened last time you were here, I wish you didn't have to."

    "Don't worry about me."

    "Do you have a plan for rescuing Eliana and Hollis?" Mina asked, stepping up beside Micah.

    "We brought some additional help." Mitsi waved a hand towards the group who had just entered the room.

    Natalia had joined them at some point, and she and Viviane now approached Kallias. Mitsi retreated to Lysander's side and he tucked an arm around her waist. She ignored the curious looks they received and waited expectantly for an answer.

    "We can use that to our advantage," Wynter said, peering at Kallias from the corner of his eye. "We already know where Ebner and Julian want the four of you brought, and they obviously won't keep Lia or Hollis there. They'd be expecting us to send someone to find them, but if any of us are missing from the meeting place..."

    "They'd likely move the children or do something worse," Kallias finished for him.

    Wynter nodded. "So we send someone they won't be looking for. You four." His eyes shifted to Azriel, Seren, Lysander, and Corbin.