I didn't answer, though his presence had at least diffused the anger that built up inside me. Instead, I rolled my eyes at my brother and ascended the stairs, hugging him briefly before leading him around my throne and into the private chamber hidden behind it.
Cadence sat on the carpet with a giggling Delilah in her lap, and didn't look up when I entered. Still shocking to see the change in my small sister over the last week, from round faced toddler burst forth from Isis in a moment to the charming little girl with the curly black hair and pale blue eyes who appeared, if I were to guess, as a five or six year old. I would have preferred the object of my irritation hadn't been present, but she and the small, washed out creature who tickled my sister with bleeding hands had taken it upon
