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This Naemira was being a dick.

For a moment I wished we’d been alone. But I knew better. Valentina seemed like the type to want information first, not later. Distracting her wouldn’t win me any points in the long run. So, I leaned in and whispered softly in her ear, “Pay attention.” Then I pressed a kiss just behind her ear, a smile already forming on my lips.

Arianna had taken the seat next to us, and Bomani was on the floor beside her, back in his usual spot. They both ignored us like we didn’t exist. Arianna stayed on task, her voice sharp and curious. “I’ve lived for two hundred years,” she said, “and I’ve never come across a twin flame like this before.”

Kleitos shifted, leaning against the wall behind him, casting his gaze over the group before speaking. “They’re called the Naemira,” he began. “I’ve only met one other person with the ability. They were family. It’s more complex than just projecting beams of fire from your palms.” The dig at Mark wasn’t subtle. “They’re connected to planes that mirror ours. However, instead of moving forward through them, they allow us to step back into moments as if they’re still happening.” He glanced at me, then back to the others. “They’re amplifiers of magic, but no two are the same. Each has its own personality, its own strengths. From what I understand, they’re born the same time as their host. They lived inside them, in unison, for most of their life.”

I thought about that for a moment. Did I have more power than I realized? I’d never even tried to explore the idea. When Arianna once told me only those with equal or greater power could sense her magical disturbances, I didn’t give it much thought. I chalked it up to my bloodline. If I was meant to be a King, then sure…maybe I’d be more sensitive to that kind of thing.

But maybe... it was more than that.

My fingers tightened slightly around the fabric of Valentina’s dress, testing a theory. There it was, a flicker beneath my muscles, like a faint electric current pulsing through my nerves. It sparked... then vanished. Like it wasn’t ready.

“So you have something living inside of you?” Valentina asked, her voice smooth but her eyes unreadable.

I chuckled, my chest vibrating against her back. “I wouldn’t call it something. It’s still us, after all.”

Kleitos gave me a warm, knowing smile. “She’s not wrong though. They have personalities, some more stubborn than others, but they are us. They share our instincts. Our desire to survive. If you were to die, so would it.” He paused, then added with a grin, “But it’s not just a ‘something,’ Valentina. It’s called a Naemira. When Starvos’ finally makes its breakthrough,” he laughed under his breath, “you’ll be able to ask him yourself if you still think it’s not alive.”

Rolling my eyes, I couldn’t stomach the idea of mine trying to talk to Valentina. Was I… jealous? That made no sense. It was me. An extension of me. Still, the mark on my chest tightened at the thought, like it was eager. Excited by the idea of speaking to her directly. And that made me want to punch my own ribs again, just like I had before.

But I didn’t.

I remembered its warning.

Internally groaned as I glanced at the side of Valentina’s face. She raised an eyebrow at me, nostril flaring ever so slightly with that classic “what now” expression. It made me chuckle, shaking my head. “I’m good,” I said before she could hit me with her famous “Are you okay?” I pressed a kiss to her cheek, again. I didn’t know what came over me, this sudden surge of affection, but I couldn’t get enough. It reminded me of my birthday… the way I kissed her then. Like I couldn’t contain the adoration building in my chest. I wanted to savor every inch of her, claim her in every subtle way. I needed to get a grip.

Still, that strain in our bond? It felt loose, like the chokehold was slipping. That knot was still there, pulsing in the background, but for once it felt like it was struggling in my favor. Snapping myself back into reality I leaned in close to whisper in her ear, “I’m going to check on my mom before we go.”

Her head turned slightly. “Do you want me to come with you?” she asked, voice soft, warm, sincere.

“You don’t have to,” I said, giving her waist a gentle squeeze. “You don’t have to pretend to like my mom for me.”

Her face fell like I just ripped her heart out. She gasped, hand flying to her chest with mock offense. “I happen to adore Martha.”

“Then come on, she loves admirers,” I said with a grin, watching as Valentina rose from my lap. I missed the warmth of her immediately, the way her hair had tickled my throat when she leaned into me. I bit my lip and followed.

Before leaving the room, I tossed over my shoulder, “I’ll be back, just going to say goodbye to my mom.” Not waiting for a response I was already grasping Valentina my hand, pulling us both down the short hallway.

Just like before, the moment we stepped into the illusion of isolation, my body flared with heat. Waves pulsed through my core like a steady drumbeat. As much as I was enthralled by the awareness she stirred in me, I knew I had to keep it together. The way the curve of her back moved beneath that dress was sinful, straight temptation wrapped in silk. I was grateful when we finally reached the guest room. My mother’s sleeping form greeted us with gentle familiarity. Her soft brown hair sprawled across the pillow, her body curled in a fetal position, breaths deep and even. Her heart rate was low and steady, and her eyes flicked side to side beneath closed lids. She was in deep sleep. Peaceful.

I almost felt guilty waking her.

But I had to. I didn’t know how long we’d be apart. I would see her again, but I didn’t know when. Mark had made all of this more complicated. His involvement with the Elguto shifted everything. Deep in my gut, I knew it: we’d have to disappear more than ever now. I knew she was in the best hands staying here with Arianna, but I wanted to be those hands. It was the dilemma of the century: protect your mother by staying away, keeping her hidden and safe… or be a total fuck-up and risk her scent being picked up all over the city.

When weighing the options, the first always won. I wasn’t that prideful.

Valentina pulled us closer to the bedside and knelt down beside her. She tugged on my hand gently, guiding me into the same position. I dropped to my knees beside her, our fingers still intertwined. Leaning in I tapped my mom’s shoulder. “Mom,” I whispered, just above a breath.

She stirred under the covers, her nose scrunching as she shifted, one hand sleepily swatting at my touch like I was some annoying bug. Grinning I tried a new spot, her cheek. Again, that same hand rose to shoo me away.

“Mom,” I chuckled, voice a bit louder this time, amusement warming my tone. My gaze drifted to Valentina, just in time to catch her amused smile spreading like a sunrise across her face. The way the firelight kissed her skin made my heart skip a beat, she looked radiant, like something out of a dream.

The moment shifted when my mother stirred, finally giving in to my persistent pokes. She stretched out against the bed, eyes still shut, her body lengthening with a dramatic yawn. Her neck tucked, fingers wiggled, arms shooting out like she was shaking sleep right off her bones. After a few seconds, she curled back into herself and slowly blinked her eyes open. “What do you want, Alexander?” she mumbled, voice raspy from sleep. “I was having a dream about seeing a man about a horse.”

Rolling my eyes, a laugh slipped from my lips. Valentina tilted her head in confusion, clearly missing the meaning. “I have plenty of horses if you really want one,” she offered innocently.

My mother chuckled, her voice still husky. “No, that’s not—” she paused, then shook her head with a small grin. “You know what? Never mind.” Propping herself on her arm she placed a hand beneath her chin. Her gaze fell over the two of us with tired but loving eyes. My mother’s hair was wild, sticking out in every direction, and fatigue still clung to her features.