Drae grinned and pulled me up onto my feet. “Relax,” he told me as he led me to two horses I hadn’t noticed before. Both had the royal seal on them and I gently rubbed Shishoni’s nose when I recognized her dotted coat. Drae was already settled on Cloud’s back and I wondered if I’d ever reach the level of grace he had. He grinned like he could read my mind. “Nothing bad happened. Your parents miss you.”

I winced at the subtle reminder of my responsibilities here. I had been trying to muster up the courage to return ever since I got back to my other home, in Michigan. I pulled myself onto Shishoni with considerably less cheery spirits. Arguments flashed through my mind between me and my parents about whether I should permanently make the move to the castle or not.

Kylie poked her head out of one of Cloud’s saddlebags and I saw hints of the home she had made when we were riding through the Velin Plains. She winked and retreated back into her shelter. I relaxed a bit. It was just my family. I could do this.