The ocarina sitting in my palms was a perfect replica. Every curve, every tone hole identical to the one that had belonged to the silver-haired old woman. Everything that had been hovering at the edges of my mind clicked into place all at once, quiet and certain.
Yael caught the way I was staring and tilted his head. "Elena, what's wrong? Don't you like it? I can make you a better one if you want."
I shook my head slowly. "No. This one is exactly right. Thank you." I looked up at him and managed a small smile, though my thoughts were still running. "I think everything just caught up with me at once. I'm worn out. I'm going to go check on your cousin." I paused, then added, "From now on consider us family."
He went completely still. His expression cracked open with something raw and disbelieving. "You… you don't hate me?"
