"Elara. What a beautiful name." Her voice was soft and welcoming. "Welcome to Blackwood. Kael told me about you over the phone. I'm Liliana, but you can call me Lily."
"It's nice to meet you, Lily..." I stammered, feeling awkward. I reached out my hand, but it was shaking a little from nerves.
She looked at my hand, then at my face. Instead of shaking it, she opened her arms and pulled me into a hug. It was friendly and warm, but the intense vibe from a second ago was gone. She whispered in my ear, "Welcome home, kiddo."
Kiddo.
That word. That hug. It felt so protective. It was like a warm wave that crashed into me, washing away the walls I had built around my heart. My eyes burned, and tears welled up without warning, blurring my vision. I froze for a second. Then, slowly and hesitant
