They left the cottage in silence, but Sarayna knew there was more reason than merely their clandestine adventure. There was an air of tension between them that she could cut with a knife. She knew something must have transpired while she slept, but they had done well enough to keep it to themselves; either that or she was a much heavier sleeper than she knew.

She found herself appreciating the silence as they trekked along on foot. Even though the world around them was shrouded in darkness, she could still admire the beauty that was around her.

She was finally home.

She was aware that her current situation was an odd one. She knew what she was, and what she would be. None of it seemed to bother her, She was content with the path she was on and looked forward to her future life. Being a grown woman did not bother her as much as it did her mother, but she wondered if it was because of the time she felt they lost, or because of what she knew Sara would now need to accept being of age.

Whichever it was, Sarayna accepted it for what it was, and held no one at fault.

They did what they had to do, just as she would.

She only hoped that it would not come to facing off against her brother.

She had known of Lexan since the day they were born—how could she not? They had shared a womb together. there was something within her, even as an infant, that resembled the despair she knew they all felt when he was taken, if not more so—it was as though half of her soul was separated from her, never to return, and even while unaware of the remainder of the world around her, she knew enough that something, some part of her, was missing.

Oddly, she knew he was in Boston before anyone else did, but how would she have been able to tell them? Her suspicions were confirmed the day he came to see her. She remembered looking up at his familiar face from her crib and she couldn't have been happier.

He had promised to see her again one day.

She wondered if this was what he meant.

Sighing contentedly, she watched her parents walking in front of her. There was an awkward distance between them, and neither spoke Nor acknowledged the other.

Whatever their argument involved...Sara hoped that they would be able to reconcile their differences before they reached the palace. If nothing else, they needed to arrive ready and united against whatever it was that may be waiting for them.