LOGIN~Valeria~
The stronghold was exactly as described, the entrance warning us to head back.
~Valeria~The stronghold was exactly as described, the entrance warning us to head back. Right above it there were these old carved words in some ancient language.We all stopped. Alerion pointed up. “Caius, what does that shit say?”
~Valeria~I couldn’t take it. “Stop! All of you! I don’t know who to trust anymore.”I glared at Dad. “You brush off everything like it’s nothing. Caius shows proof and you accuse him of working with Cassian? What the hell?”Then I looked at the guys. “And you, jumping to call him an incompetent? He’s my dad.”“And as for you, dad. So now you’re sending me on a suicide mission? Do you even love me at all? Mom hid this thing knowing it could kill me, and you’re standing here telling me I have to go?”“Why wasn’t you man enough to tell your people about your affair with the maid, my mom? Does that mean I’m illegitimate? That’s why the council members and everybody else keeps accusing my bloodline of being a fraud, and you just stayed quietly without telling me anything? You let them call me fake while you sat back and did nothing!”“I don’t even care about your explanations anymore because you are probably going to lie. So fuck this. I quit. I’m done with all of you.”I turned and storm
~Valeria~I was already on the couch with my legs up, heating pad stuck to my shoulder, scrolling through random reels to distract myself from the dull ache. I didn’t even look up. Alerion was already moving toward the door before the chime finished.I heard the low voices outside. Dad’s voice first, then Alerion second. “No. She’s not in the mood to see y
~Valeria~I waited until the house was quiet. Alerion had finally gone to train in the basement gym. Zane was in the kitchen banging pots around like he was mad at the stove. Lysander was out back running laps to burn off whatever energy he still had. Caius was locked in his room with the ancient book and his screens. I slipped into the small sitting room at the back of the hou
~Valeria~I woke up to the smell of breakfast drifting under my door like it was trying to bribe me. Again. Third day in a row. My shoulder still throbbed under the bandage, but at least I could move my arm without wanting to scream. Small wins.I pushed myself up against the pillows. The second my feet hit the floor, the door opened. Lysander walked in carrying a tray like he was delivering gold bars. Behind him, Zane hovered with a second plate stacked high, pancakes this time, drowning in syrup and whipped cream. My stomach
~Alerion~I stood in the doorway of her room watching the medic finish wrapping fresh gauze around her shoulder. The black lines were gone, thank fuck, but the skin still looked like one wrong move and it would split open again. Every time I blinked I saw that dark smoke punching into her. Every time I breathed I smelled the burnt-sugar stink of shadow-rot. And every time I looked at her sleeping face I wanted to put my fist through a wall.
~Valeria~
~Valeria~
~Valeria~"Okay, now that sounds like trouble," Lysander said, jumping up. "I'll be right back! Don't move!"He disappeared, literally. Used his speed to vanish.I was alone for exactly thirty seconds before the door opened again.Zane came in carrying a tray. "Fresh soup. Still hot. Made it myself
~Valeria~







