Burning Key

Chapter 10

"Of course, I did...though if Archer had been there, I wouldn't have been the only one on the receiving end of your rage," Eamon grinned with a wink at her.

Dessa smacked him on the stomach as she strode past, then looped her arm through Milena's. The boys followed behind as Milena steered them toward a long table at the center of the square right in front of the fountain. In the three weeks since the attack on the city, every bit of damage had been fixed, but Dessa could still see what happened playing out in her head. Her smile waivered slightly as they approached, then her nerves took over at the sight of all who sat there.

"Dessa!" Cleo yelled as she jumped up from her chair between Adeena and Kav. Just as Milena and Archer had, she wrapped her arms around her, lifting her feet from the ground. "Happy birthday, sweet girl. I hope this all beats your birthday celebrations back home?"

"It's definitely up there," she grinned at her.

"And Elys...has he been spoiling you today like he said he planned to?"

"Of course. Why do you think there are three boxes being shipped back to the palace? I couldn't tote everything around with me."

Cleo laughed as Renna and Adeena came up beside them. Though Adeena only greeted her with a smile, Renna pulled her in for a hug and kiss on the cheek.

"There's someone I want you to meet," Renna smiled at her, stepping sideways as an older male came into view, having not left Renna's side. "Dessa, this is my mate and husband, Evander. Evander, my love...this is Dessa Deverell Ayveri. She's Bridget and Alberich's granddaughter and her parents are their daughter Alyvia and Crown Prince Jai."

Dessa's smile grew once more as she stared up at the male. He looked around the same age as her grandfathers, his dark hair threaded through with silver. She could see the similarities between him and his granddaughters with the shape of their eyes, the slight, constant upward turn of their mouths. And as he stood beside Renna, it was easy to see the mating bond shining brightly between them after having been apart for so long. Dessa couldn't wait to see more of them together, especially having heard so many stories from Renna throughout the years.

Not wanting to just go in for a handshake, Dessa was the one to hug him, squeezing tight. "It's so nice to finally meet you," she told him, pulling back with a smile. "I apologize I didn't come yesterday. I've been..."

"No need to explain, my dear," Evander told her, returning her smile with one of his own. "I've heard so much about you over the last day that I feel like I know you already." He reached up to brush his fingers along the silver Deverell streak in her hair. "You look so much like Bridget...which I'm guessing you get from your mother, Alyvia."

"I do," she nodded with a bright smile. "But of course, I have Daddy's hair and eyes."

"How is Crown Prince Jai doing? I'm guessing he's not the same rowdy male I knew?"

"Great," Dessa laughed. "Probably being just as overprotective with my mother and little sister Lenora as he always is. And wishing I'd get home soon."

"I wouldn't doubt it," Evander nodded with a smile, then looked behind her at Elys. "And this must be your mate, Elys, the Seer of Ikreus. I've heard a lot about you as well."

Elys reached out to shake his hand. "It's nice to finally meet you, sir. I've heard about you, too...and am finally able to see you as well."

It took Evander a moment to realize he was speaking about his visions. "Hopefully everything looks promising?"

His eyes flashed white so quickly that no one really noticed but Dessa. "It definitely does."

It wasn't just Evander Dessa had yet to meet yet, though. Sitting around one end of their table were four others, all of whom were dressed just as impeccably as everyone else, though Dessa knew were deadlier than they seemed.