A royalty au I’ve been throwing around with @majordetectiveagent that involves Sam Danvers, Alex’s twin. There is much more involved that may come up later.
Alex leaned heavily against the wall with one shoulder, looking out the balcony doors.
The entire island was orange.
The streets beneath the castle were almost completely empty, with most citizens listening to the warning to stay indoors through the dust storm.
“I thought you wanted to be the one to do the packing?”
The corner of Alex’s mouth tugged up. She turned so the back of both shoulders were against the wall, turned her head to look at Lucy, sprawled across Alex’s bed and decidedly not packing.
“I will,” Alex said. “I’m just taking a break.”
Lucy laughed, pushed herself up she she was sitting on the edge of the bed. “It’s been quite a long break, tk.”
“It’s not like I’m taking all of my belongings. Just essentials.”
“Yes, but you have a slightly warped sense of what is essential.”
Alex shrugged. She pushed off the wall, stepped towards Lucy. “I’ll have you, what could be more essential than that?”
Lucy scoffed, but Alex knew the compliment hit true by the way she looked away, by the small smile she couldn’t quite hide.
Two sharp knocks at the door pulled the smile away, pulled Lucy out of the bed. The door opened and she dropped into a deep bow.
Alex grinned at her sister, gave a smaller bow, rising right away.
“You can stand, Lucy,” Sam said.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Lucy said, rising.
“How is the packing going?” Sam asked, glancing around the room
“There has been...progress,” Alex said.
Sam laughed. “You leave in a week.”
“And I will be ready in a week.”
“I’m sure Lucy will make sure you are.”
Alex rolled her eyes. “What about you? Are you ready for your naval training to start next month?”
“More than,” Sam said. “Not having you there will be the hardest part.”
Alex nodded. The next four years were going to be rough without Sam right there, but at least she was going to have Lucy. While Sam was going to have Arias with her, Arias had already gone through training, so would be more peripheral.
“I’ll miss you,” Sam said, the softest Alex had heard her in years.
“I’ll miss you, too,” Alex replied.