The last of the guests were beginning to leave. Ivory thought the party was a success. The singing during the cake, Lyra's new gifts: toys and clothing, and full bellies told everyone that the party was finally at an end.
Children ran across the lawn one final time before exhausted parents called them home. Lanterns flickered in the evening breeze, and the music had softened into quiet conversation.
Ivory sat on a chair with Lyra asleep against her shoulder. For the first time in years... She didn't feel alone.
Sure, she had Lily, Honor, and Birdie, but deep down they were Blue Dragons members. She loved Lily but knew that if one of them made Blue question their loyalty, they'd never see each other again. Birdie and Honor would also die for Blue. Their concern was impressing Blue and being part of a high ranking political family.
Elias wandered over carrying two glasses of wine. "I figured you could use one."
She smiled. "Thank you."
He sat beside her. "I know today was... a lot."
She laughed quietly. "That's one way to describe it."
Nora joined them, dropping into the chair across from Ivory.
"So."
Ivory looked up.
"So?"
"We're not letting this be the last time."
Ivory blinked. "What?"
"We're siblings," Nora gestured between them. The word still felt strange. "We've already lost enough time."
"We're making up for it," Elias nodded.
"You sound very confident," Ivory smiled.
"We are," Nora leaned forward, "You've spent years without us, and now you don't get a choice."
"You sound like Blue," Ivory laughed.
"Please don't insult me," Nora made a face.
All three of them laughed.
It was easy. Unexpectedly easy.
Elias looked toward Lyra. "Next week, We're taking you out. And please, bring Lyra."
Ivory nodded.
"You have family now," Elias smiled.
The sentence settled somewhere deep inside her. Family. Not Blue's family. Not the Dominion.
Her family.
People who wanted to know her simply because she existed.
Elias got up and said goodbye to Ivory and gave her a hug. He planted a soft kiss on Lyra's head before telling one of this friends to start the car.
Ivory got up and stood by the doorway with Lyra's light frame in her arms.
Nora stood beside Ivory. "Blue had us finally meet … he's giving us our family back. I wonder why now."
Ivory moved closer and made sure no one was around. "He trusts me. He knows I have nowhere to go and that I cannot outsmart him. He's strategic. He's aware that I'm not going to betray him."
Nora nodded. "You understand how he works. Keep your eyes and ears open. See you around." Nora left as quickly as she had come. She moved with quiet grace.
...
Later, after the last guests had gone, the palace grew quiet again. Ivory was in the living room with a throw on blanket and a book. She was intrigued by the Seraphyne's ancient culture and religious beliefs. She had Blue order her a book on the group's spiritual beliefs so that she could better understand their intelligence and their supernatural gifts. She found many were very intuitive and believed in the stars.
Every two years, there was something The Seraphyne called a convergence. It was when the stars fully aligned and predicted powers from the heavens. The Dragons believed that it gave children supernatural abilities and gifts like strong intuition or super human strength.
Ivory couldn't help by dive into what their practices were. Ivory wasn't so sure Astrology was really real, though she knew people believed in it, and that when stars aligned on your birthday, depending on the coordinates and planets they landed on, it mapped out someone's whole personality and future.
Honor wandered into the sitting room without knocking. Ivory looked up to see Honor take a seat next to her. Birdie followed behind her carrying two untouched slices of birthday cake.
"So..." Honor looked around dramatically.
"So?" Ivory laughed.
"We were beginning to think Blue planned on keeping you all to himself."
Birdie nodded solemnly. "We had theories."
"Terrible theories," Honor corrected.
"They were entertaining," Birdie shrugged.
Ivory laughed harder than she had in months.
"There she is," Honor smiled. "That laugh."
She sat beside Ivory. "It's been a long time."
Birdie handed Ivory a plate. "We missed you."
The words caught Ivory off guard. She looked between them. "So did I."
Honor looked toward the hallway to make sure Blue wasn't nearby. Then lowered her voice. "You know..."
"What?"
"If Blue tries scheduling every minute of your life....."
"We're stealing you," Birdie finished.
"For at least one day," Honor said.
"And Lyra." Birdie added.
"Especially Lyra," Honor grinned.
"I don't think Blue would like that," Ivory smirked.
"I didn't ask if he'd like it," Honor laughed.
More laughter came from the girls. She loved that they could mock Blue in private.
The room felt warm. Comfortable. Normal.
"You can get your own wife, you know," Blue replied.
Honor and Birdie laughed as Blue and Red walked by.
"Come on, Blue, please!" Honor begged.
"Plan with her siblings. They are taking her out next week," Blue winked at Ivory.
"Wow, without you?" Red asked.
Blue smacked Red's arm as the women chuckled.
The men left, and soon, the three women had hung out inside the living room and ate some more birthday cake. For just a little while, nobody talked about bloodlines, politics, or dynasties.
They talked about food, old memories, Birdie's terrible cooking, and Honor getting lost three different times trying to find the palace nursery. Even though Birdie and Honor were calculated and experienced gang members around Blue, they were human around each other.
And for the first time since Blue had shown her the file... Ivory simply existed.
Not as an orphan isolated from the gang. Not as a Seraphyne. Not as the future mother of rulers. Not as part of a plan. Just... Ivory.
Even Ivory couldn't predict what would happen; she just knew that Blue split up humans and their families and killed many people for his own selfish purposes, while reconciling her with her own family in the process. Anyone who did what Blue wanted got whatever they wanted. Anyone that went against Blue ... well, he'd destroy their world and turn it upside down.