CHAPTER 355: HOMECOMING

The stagecoach wheels hit familiar cobblestones and Melisa’s whole body relaxed.

Syux. Home.

Sure, being a nim here meant dealing with dirty looks and whispered insults and shopkeepers who suddenly remembered they were "closed" when she walked in. But compared to being someone’s war prize? This was paradise.

[God, I missed these prejudiced assholes.]

Through the window, she watched merchants hawking their wares and guards looking bored at their posts. Normal. Wonderfully, beautifully normal.

[I guess my existence in the military is over now... Just like that.]

"Finally!" Isabella stretched like a cat. The movement of her tail nearly hit Melisa in the face. "My ass is numb from sitting so long."

"Your ass is numb because you insisted on sitting on my lap for the last hour," Armia pointed out.

"Details."

Raven sat quietly in the corner, her newly healed arm moving stiffly. The military healers had helped fix the break, but even with literal magic, she’d need time to get back to full strength.

Suddenly, Isabella’s tongue traced the shell of Melisa’s ear.

"Gah!" Melisa jerked away. "C-Can’t you wait till we get home? Geez."

"But you taste good." Isabella grinned.

"No I don’t. I taste like... sweat and dirt."

"Sexy sweat and dirt."

The coach pulled up to the palace gates.

Guards checked their papers with the efficiency of people who’d rather be anywhere else.

"The queen’s expecting you, Miss Blackflame," one said. "Follow me."

They were led through those familiar marble halls that probably cost more than most people’s houses. Even then, although Melisa had been here before, it still felt kinda surreal. Like she was playing dress-up as someone else, almost.

Aria waited in her private study. She looked tired, shadows under her eyes that makeup couldn’t quite hide.

"Melisa." Her voice was carefully neutral. "I heard you had quite the experience."

"That’s one way to put it."

"Captain Fenris sent word about your... early extraction." Aria’s fingers drummed on her desk. "She said you were captured and escaped. Impressively, from what I gather."

Melisa looked away.

[Given how quickly she arranged for the stagecoach and all, she must have drafted the letter and sent it ahead of us as the stagecoach was making its way to the city.]

"We managed."

"Indeed." Aria leaned back. "The question now is our agreement. You came to serve in exchange for Koros’s life."

Melisa’s stomach tightened. After everything, if Aria decided to execute him anyway...

"However," Aria continued, "you did serve. You fought. You gathered intelligence about the darian tribes that could prove valuable." A small smile touched her lips. "I’d say you’ve more than fulfilled your end of the bargain."

"So Koros...?"

"Will live. Life imprisonment instead of execution, as discussed." Aria’s expression hardened slightly. "Though I doubt his sister will thank you. Word is she’s vanished from the city."

Vira. Melisa hadn’t thought about her since the escape. Where would she go? What would she do?

[Maybe she thought Koros was doomed, and that somehow she’d be next. Oh well... Not my problem anymore.]

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Don’t thank me yet." Aria stood. "The darian tribes likely won’t be happy that even a single prisoner managed to escape. You won’t have to deal with those consequences, but the soldiers will. No doubt they’ll fight more... vigorously. I just hope we’ll be able to handle it."

Melisa didn’t have an answer for that.

"So... Can I go, Your Majesty?"

Aria hesitated for just one quick second.

But, she nodded.

"Indeed, you may."

---

Javir’s house looked exactly the same. Warm lights in the windows. Smoke rising from the chimney. Like the last week hadn’t happened at all.

Melisa for sure wasn’t heading back to the academy after all that. Not yet. The academy’s dorms were a house. She wanted to go home.

"Home sweet home," Isabella announced, throwing the door open. "Anybody miss us?"

"Melisa!"

Hazel barreled into her, nearly knocking her over. Her little sister had grown another inch in just a week.

"You’re back! Mom said you were fighting darians! Did you kill any? Was it scary? Did you—"

"Let her breathe, sweetie." Margaret appeared, pulling Hazel back. Her eyes swept over Melisa, checking for injuries. "You look thin."

"I’m fine, Mom."

"Mm-hmm." Margaret’s hug was fierce and quick. "Javir’s in her study. You should probably let her know you came back."

"Later." Melisa’s legs felt like jelly. "I need a bath. And sleep. And food. Not necessarily in that order."

"I’ll heat up some water," Melistair said from the doorway. His smile was relieved. "Good to have you home, princess."

"Good to be home."

And it was. Even with everything that had happened, everything that had changed, this still felt right.

Isabella grabbed her hand.

"Come on. I’ll help you wash your back."

Melisa raised a brow.

"Just my back?"

"Well, we’ll see where things go." She waggled her eyebrows. "I’ve got a week of pent-up horniness to work through."

"When don’t you?"

They headed upstairs, Isabella already chattering about all the things she wanted to do. Most of them involved getting naked.

[Some things never change.]

Her room was exactly how she’d left it. Books scattered on the desk. Clothes thrown over a chair. The bed she’d been dreaming about for days.

"So," Isabella said, already pulling off her shirt. "Bath first or should I just bend you over the desk?"

"Bath. Definitely bath. I’d rather you not rail me while I smell like a horse though."

"A sexy horse~"

"What does that even mean...?"

Despite everything, Melisa laughed. Here, in her room, with Isabella’s familiar warmth against her and the sounds of home drifting up from downstairs, she could almost pretend the last week was just a bad dream.

Almost.

"Hey." Isabella’s voice went softer. "Are you okay? Really?"

"I’m fine," she replied. It felt good to have someone ask, though.

"Alright." Isabella tugged her toward the bathroom. "For now, let’s get you clean. Then I’m going to make you forget all about angry darian warriors."

"Promises, promises."

But she let Isabella lead her. Let familiar hands undress her.

For now, she was home. Everything else could wait.

[Home sweet home, I guess.]