Chapter 30: Celebration and Secrets.

The tavern in Green Arbor was alive with laughter and music, the air thick with the scent of roasted meats, fresh bread, and the tang of ale. The newly rebuilt tavern had become a symbol of the town’s resilience, and tonight, it felt like a true gathering of friends and family. At the heart of the celebration, a new mayor had been sworn in—Lara Langford beloved for her kindness and steady hand. The whole town seemed to have turned out, eager to enjoy a night of festivities under the warm glow of lanterns and the comforting hum of familiar faces.

At one of the long tables, Jess and Miko sat closely, their heads leaning into each other as they laughed at an old story someone was recounting. Their bond was evident in the way they stole quick, affectionate glances and shared private jokes amidst the revelry. Miko, ever the playful one, kept nudging Jess under the table, eliciting quiet giggles and the occasional playful shove from his wife.

"Come on, Miko, not here," Jess chided, her cheeks flushed from both the warmth of the fire and her husband’s teasing. Her smile, however, betrayed her fondness.

Miko grinned, unbothered. "What? I'm just happy to have a night off with my beautiful wife." He gave her hand a squeeze, their fingers intertwining in an unspoken promise of love. Jess smiled at him, leaning in for a quick kiss, her eyes glowing with happiness.

Across the table, Talon was deep in conversation with Lucas, his expression more serious, but there was still a relaxed air to the group. Talon watched Jess and Miko for a moment, taking in their easy affection. It was a rare thing, in their line of work, to find such peace and happiness. He felt a pang of something he couldn’t quite name.

"Hey, Talon," Jess called out, snapping him back to reality, "you look like you're about to start brooding. What’s on your mind?"

Talon shifted in his seat, glancing around before leaning toward Jess. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked, his voice just loud enough to carry over the noise but still discreet.

Jess raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Sure," she said, excusing herself from Miko’s side with a playful wink. "Don’t miss me too much," she teased him, and Miko waved her off with a grin.

Talon led Jess to a quieter corner of the tavern, away from the laughter and chatter. His brow furrowed as he spoke. "I haven’t told Ava yet... but Lucas found something. He found where her village was." His words were heavy, the weight of the secret clear in his tone.

Jess’s face softened with understanding. "And you’re not sure if you should tell her," she said gently.

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Talon nodded. "Yeah. She’s been through enough. I don’t want to drag her back into something that might hurt her more."

Jess crossed her arms, thinking it over. "Ava’s tough, but we both know she’s also been avoiding her past. Maybe this is something she needs to face, but only when she’s ready. You can’t make that choice for her, Talon. But when the time comes, she’ll need to know you’re with her, no matter what."

Talon exhaled slowly, his jaw clenched. "I know. I just don’t want to push her into something that could—"

"—that could help her heal, or break her down?" Jess finished for him, her eyes kind. "That’s always the risk, Talon. But you’ll know when it’s time. And when she’s ready, she’ll need her brother."

Talon nodded, appreciating her wisdom. "Thanks, Jess."

"Anytime." She patted his arm and gave him a soft smile before they returned to the table, where Miko was playfully wrestling with Lucas over the last piece of bread.

"Get your hands off that, Miko," Lucas grumbled, though his laughter betrayed him.

Miko held up the bread triumphantly. "You snooze, you lose!" he declared, waving it in front of Lucas's face before taking an exaggerated bite.

Jess laughed, sitting back down beside him. "He’s like a child sometimes, I swear."

"But you love me anyway," Miko said, his voice playful as he leaned in to kiss her cheek.

"Debatable," Jess teased, though the smile on her face said otherwise.

The conversation drifted back to lighter topics, and soon the group was lost in stories once more. Talon regaled them with one of Ava’s old undercover missions. "So, there we were, in this run-down village," Talon began, "and Ava has to pretend she’s a traveling bard."

Eli, who had just returned to the table, leaned in with interest. "A bard? Ava? I’ve got to hear this."

Talon grinned, leaning forward conspiratorially. "Oh, it gets better. She not only played the lute—badly, I might add—but she managed to talk her way into a truce by convincing the local gang that she could serenade them into submission."

The table erupted into laughter, with even Lucas chuckling at the image of Ava, serious and stoic, playing a lute and singing to save the day.

Miko wiped a tear from his eye. "I would've paid to see that!"

Talon smirked, sipping his ale. "I’m sure she’ll deny it, but it’s true."

Eli, who had been smiling but was clearly missing Ava’s presence, leaned back in his chair. "When’s she back?" he asked, his voice softer than before.

"Two days, if all goes well," Miko answered, his tone respectful. "She’s wrapping up at the outpost."

Talon shot Eli a knowing look. "Don’t worry, she’ll be back before you know it."

Eli nodded, though his thoughts seemed elsewhere, a small smile playing on his lips as he imagined her return.

As the night wore on, the music grew louder, the laughter more infectious. Miko pulled Jess to her feet, spinning her around to the lively tunes of the tavern’s musicians. "Come on, one dance," he insisted, his grin wide.

Jess rolled her eyes playfully but let him pull her into a spin, their joy and love evident in every movement. The others watched with smiles, the warmth of the moment wrapping around them like a soft blanket.

Even Talon, usually reserved, found himself chuckling at Miko’s antics, his earlier concerns momentarily pushed aside. For now, at least, they were all together, celebrating life and love, and the future—whatever it held—seemed just a little bit brighter.