Chapter 36: Rhea

Rhea ran.

I expected anger.

Questions.

Maybe denial.

I did not expect her to turn around and sprint down the corridor.

"Rhea!"

She didn't stop.

Rowan moved.

I grabbed his arm.

"Don't chase her like security."

"She's escaping."

"Exactly."

I ran after her myself.

Rhea was fast.

Really fast.

She cut through the history building, jumped a stair railing, and disappeared through a side exit.

My wolf loved the chase.

My lungs did not.

"She's definitely Lunaris," I muttered.

Rowan caught up easily.

"How does that prove anything?"

"Family tradition of making terrible decisions while running."

"Compelling."

We found her near the old botanical gardens.

She had stopped beside a locked gate.

No way out.

When she turned, a small blade was in her hand.

Rowan immediately stepped in front of me.

Rhea's eyes flashed.

"Stay back."

I raised my hands.

"We're not here to hurt you."

"That's what they always say."

"Who?"

She looked toward Rowan.

"Vale."

His expression changed.

"You know who I am."

"Everyone knows who you are."

"No. You said Vale like it meant something else."

Rhea tightened her grip.

"Marcus told me never to trust your family."

My stomach dropped.

"You know Marcus?"

Her face shut down.

I stepped around Rowan.

"Nessa."

"I know."

I looked at Rhea.

"Marcus killed our family."

Her expression flickered.

"Liar."

"We have Aurelius's recording."

Another flicker.

"Marcus said Aurelius started the war."

"There wasn't a war."

"You don't know anything."

"You're right."

That stopped her.

"I didn't know Lunaris existed two weeks ago."

Rhea stared.

"I grew up thinking my mother was Selene Arden and my biggest family problem was my parents being embarrassingly supportive."

Rowan coughed.

I ignored him.

"Then I learned my mother was Selene Lunaris. Then I learned about Aurelius. Then Cassian appeared. Then Marcus attacked the Moon Court. Yesterday I learned my mother had a twin sister."

Rhea's hand trembled.

"Seraphina."

"You know her name."

"Marcus told me."

"Did he tell you she was your mother?"

Silence.

That was answer enough.

I stepped closer.

Rhea lifted the blade.

I stopped.

"Okay."

"You want my blood."

"What?"

"For the claim."

"No."

"That's why you found me."

"I delayed my recognition hearing because I found out you exist."

Confusion crossed her face.

"Why?"

"Because if you have a claim, you deserve to decide whether you want it."

She laughed harshly.

"Nobody gives things away."

"I'm not giving you anything. I'm giving you information."

"Same difference."

"No."

I looked directly into her eyes.

"I'm not Marcus."

Her face changed.

"Don't say his name like you know him."

"I met him."

The blade lowered slightly.

"What?"

"He attacked my Moon Court hearing."

"Impossible."

"He's in custody."

Rhea went pale.

"No."

"He confessed enough through his actions."

"No."

"He helped destroy Lunaris."

"Stop."

"He experimented on your mother."

"Stop!"

Golden light exploded from Rhea's body.

The garden lamps shattered.

Rowan moved toward me.

I held out a hand.

"Don't."

Rhea's wolf power rolled through the courtyard.

Wild.

Untrained.

Terrified.

My own wolf answered.

Not with dominance.

With recognition.

Gold light spread from my skin.

The two energies met.

Rhea gasped.

For one second, I felt something that wasn't mine.

Fear.

Loneliness.

A child being moved from room to room.

A man's voice telling her everyone else wanted to use her.

A photograph of Seraphina.

Marcus promising that one day Rhea would restore what her family lost.

Then the connection snapped.

We both staggered.

Rowan caught me.

Rhea dropped the blade.

"What was that?"

"I don't know."

She stared at me.

"You felt it."

"Yes."

Her eyes filled with tears.

"Get out of my head."

"I didn't try."

"You're lying."

"I'm not."

She backed away.

Then Cassian appeared at the far end of the garden.

He had followed security reports.

The moment Rhea saw him, everything changed.

Cassian stopped breathing.

"Seraphina."

Rhea's face hardened.

"I'm not Seraphina."

"I know."

His voice broke.

"I'm sorry."

He slowly approached.

"You're Rhea."

"Who are you?"

"Cassian Lunaris."

She stared.

"My mother's brother?"

"Cousin."

Rhea looked between us.

"You all knew?"

"Not until days ago."

Cassian's eyes filled.

"I searched for your mother for years."

"Marcus said nobody looked."

"He lied."

Rhea flinched.

Cassian stopped moving.

"Your mother was my family. If I'd known she was alive, I would've burned every territory between us to reach her."

Rhea's mouth trembled.

For the first time, she looked seventeen.

Not mysterious.

Not dangerous.

Just young.

"She's dead."

Cassian's face collapsed.

"You know?"

Rhea nodded.

"She died when I was six."

Mom had hoped.

We all had.

"How?"

Rhea looked at the ground.

"She helped me escape."

My throat tightened.

"From the facility?"

"Yes."

"Marcus said she died during an accident."

"Marcus lies."

Rhea laughed bitterly.

"Yeah."

She wiped her face angrily.

"My adoptive parents worked for her."

"Elias and Mara Venn?"

"They were researchers. They turned against Marcus."

"Where are they?"

"Dead."

The word landed heavily.

"Marcus found us when I was twelve."

My stomach twisted.

"What happened?"

"They got me away."

"And then?"

"I've been alone."

Six years.

Alone.

I stepped closer.

This time she didn't raise the blade.

"You don't have to be anymore."

Rhea looked at me.

"You don't know me."

"No."

"You might hate me."

"Possible."

That startled a laugh out of her.

I smiled faintly.

"But we can start with coffee."

She stared.

"Coffee?"

"Apparently that's how normal university students handle complicated family revelations."

Rowan muttered, "Is it?"

"No idea."

Rhea looked at him.

Then at Cassian.

Then back at me.

Finally she whispered:

"Marcus told me if another Lunaris heir appeared, I had to stay away."

"Why?"

Her face became serious again.

"Because he said one of us would eventually have to kill the other."