Only, Wesley was already home. Rishiya was his past, but Creije was his present and his future.

“I don’t think they need me around,” Wesley said. “Not with their new Liege taking the reins.”

Wesley nudged her with his shoulder.

“Zekia and I agree that it’s your destiny,” Wesley said. “Don’t we, kid?”

“Yep,” Zekia said. “I’m going to dream and relax and have Amja tell me stories.”

Saxony smiled, but Wesley could see he hadn’t given her the answer she wanted.

“Do you think the Kin will be mad when I go back?” Zekia asked.

She looked up at him with worried eyes, her chin nuzzled into his shoulder.

“What if they hate me now?”

“If you want advice on redemption, then you’re talking to the wrong sibling.” He ruffled her hair and Zekia pulled away from him to smooth it back out. “You’ve seen a thousand futures, kid. At least one of them had to have been on your side.”

Saxony let out a disbelieving laugh. “Look at you, the wise old man.”

Wesley frowned at the word old, but thought the wise part was enough of a compliment to let it slide.

“Just take care of her,” he said, pushing himself up from the grass.

He needed to find Tavia. It had been hours since he’d last seen her.

Saxony, Karam, and Zekia stood too, and there was an awkward moment where Wesley thought Karam might hug him, but instead she merely stepped forward and clapped him on the shoulder.

“You fought well,” she said. “Even if I fought better.”

Wesley would take that goodbye.

He’d miss his favorite fighter. Despite everything, Karam and he had been in each other’s lives for years, and that meant he couldn’t think of anyone who he’d rather have accompany his sisters back to Rishiya. There wasn’t a person in the realms he trusted more to guard them. And to love them.

“I’ll see you around,” Wesley said to her. “Look after those two, okay?”

Karam gave him a rare smile.

“Of course,” she said. “I will go with them back to Rishiya and watch over them.”

That was good enough for Wesley. Knowing Karam would be watching over his family meant that he knew they would always be safe.

“You’ll be okay here?” Saxony asked.

“I’m always okay,” Wesley said.

Saxony said nothing in return, but she pulled him into a tight hug that threw Wesley for a loop. He was not a hugger, but he’d also never been a brother before, so he guessed things changed. He wrapped his arms around Saxony and felt the moment she sighed against his shoulder.

“See you soon, little brother,” she said, pulling away.

Wesley sucked in a breath. “Let’s stick with first names,” he said. “See you around, Saxony.”