Chapter 9 Bonds Of Frost And Light

Rene sat in silence, watching the twin boys beside her. Adrian and Adriel. Her little brothers.

She rolled their names in her mind, tasting them like something familiar yet distant. She had lost so much—her past, her memories—but not them.

Never them.

Adrian, the older one, sat with an air of quiet confidence, silver eyes scanning the darkened city below as if he could uncover its secrets just by looking. His fingers played with the frost forming on the balcony railing, shaping ice into intricate patterns.

Adriel, the younger, was curled up against Rene's side, his small hands gripping the fabric of her cloak like he was afraid she might disappear. He didn't say much, but his presence was grounding, solid.

"I still don't remember everything," Rene admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Adrian hummed, unfazed. "That's okay."

Adriel peeked up at her, his voice softer. "You're still you."

Rene felt her chest tighten. How could two five-year-olds be so certain when she, a grown woman, felt like she was slipping through the cracks of her own past?

But they believed in her.

And that was enough.

She ruffled their silver hair, watching as tiny flakes of ice formed in their strands. "You two are really strong, you know that?"

Adrian smirked, clearly pleased. "Of course."

Adriel grinned, but it was softer, more mischievous. "Stronger than you?"

Rene raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You wanna test that theory?"

Without warning, both boys lunged at her.

She barely had time to react before a flurry of snow and ice exploded in the air, and suddenly, she was pinned to the ground by two very determined, very giggling little warriors.

Adrian conjured a thin layer of frost beneath her, making it impossible for her to gain footing, while Adriel created tiny, harmless icicles to tickle her sides.

Rene gasped between laughter, trying to shake them off. "That's cheating!"

Adrian smirked. "You never said no powers."

Nyra appeared at the doorway, arms crossed, watching the scene with amusement. "You do realize they've been waiting years to do this, right?"

Rene froze.

Adriel snuggled closer, his little fingers curling into her sleeve. "We thought you'd never come back."

Something in Rene's heart broke at the raw honesty in his voice.

She pulled both of them into a tight hug. "I'm here now," she whispered. "And I'm not going anywhere."

Adrian, ever composed, huffed as if he wasn't affected—but Rene caught the way his tiny fingers curled into the fabric of her cloak, holding onto her just as tightly as his brother.

Nyra leaned against the doorframe. "You should tell her about her."

Adrian and Adriel suddenly stiffened.

Rene blinked. "Her?"

The twins exchanged a look—one of those silent conversations only siblings could have.

Then, Adrian took a deep breath. "You have a baby sister."

Rene's mind went blank.

"…What?"

Adriel nodded, his expression serious now. "She's two."

Two.

Rene's heart pounded.

She had a little sister?

A baby sister?

She barely had time to process it before Adrian stood up, brushing ice off his sleeves. "Come on."

Adriel slid off her lap, tugging her hand. "We'll take you to her."

Rene didn't hesitate.

She followed them down the winding halls of the tower, her heart hammering with every step.

A sister.

A tiny piece of family she had never known.

What would she be like? Would she look like their mother? Or would she—

The door creaked open.

And Rene's breath caught.

A crib stood in the center of the dimly lit room. And inside it, curled up under a soft black blanket, was her.

A tiny, delicate girl with silver hair, long lashes resting against pale cheeks, and the same features Rene saw in the mirror every day.

She looked exactly like her.

As if sensing her presence, the little girl stirred, her small hands stretching outward before sleepy silver eyes fluttered open.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then—

The baby's face lit up.

She reached toward Rene, her tiny fingers grasping at the air.

Adrian smirked. "She likes you."

Adriel huffed. "Obviously."

Rene took a shaky step forward, her hands trembling as she gently lifted the small girl into her arms.

The baby cooed, snuggling into Rene's warmth as if she had known her forever.

Rene felt her entire world shift.

She had fought against darkness. She had lost her memories. She had been feared, doubted, and nearly consumed by her past.

But here—

Here, in the quiet of the night, holding the baby sister she had never known—

She had never felt more whole.

To Be Continued…...