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I shook my head, running my fingers through my curls, trying to push away the thought that, back in that world, people might already think I was dead.

“No, I get it… I get it,” I said quietly. “My friend Connor used to do the same thing.” I tried to strip the grief from my voice. Even thinking about pieces of my old life, what might’ve been left behind, put me somewhere I didn’t want to sit too long.

As if she felt the shift in more than just my tone, Valentina’s fingers brushed against my knee, tracing slow circles through the fabric. Warmth followed. It spread from her touch, moving up my leg and settling deep in my chest, steadying something in me I hadn’t realized was unraveling.

What’s wrong? Her voice moved through my thoughts, soft and close.

I flinched at first, pulling back slightly, but the calm followed just as quickly, easing me back down. “It’s… nothing and everything,” I said, my voice low enough for only her to hear. I took a slow breath, her scent filling my lungs, grounding me. “But, Valentina…” I paused, letting the words settle. “It’s okay if you let me feel it. I’m okay with sitting in it.”

Her hand hesitated before sliding from my knee back into her lap. She gave a small nod. “I’m sorry. I should’ve asked,” she said softly. “I know you’re… not always comfortable with touch.” She folded her arms over herself, tucking in slightly.

“No, you’re okay. I promise.” I tried to steady my tone. It wasn’t that—I just needed to process things at my own pace. I knew she was perceptive enough to understand that… but the faint disappointment on her face told me I hadn’t explained it well. Not wanting to make it awkward for either of us, I shifted the conversation. “Is your dad nice?”

She didn’t answer right away. For a moment, I thought she hadn’t heard me.

“He’s a competent man,” she said finally. “Nice is… relative.” Her gaze drifted upward as she considered her next words. “When you meet him, don’t show fear. He’ll smell it.”

My attention sharpened at that. But after everything I’d already survived, hiding fear didn’t seem impossible. I’d been afraid since the moment Valentina walked into my life, and I’d managed well enough. I nodded for her to continue.

“He still serves the king,” she said. “He’s his right hand now.” A pause settled between us. “If this goes wrong… before you’re strong enough…” Her voice dipped. “He’ll be the first to die.” My chest tightened. “And if they find out who you really are—” She didn’t finish. She didn’t have to. The fear was written across her face. She would be lost without him. I understood that more than I wanted to. Losing Mark once had already been enough.

Arianna’s voice cut through my thoughts, low and unyielding: If you want to protect the people you love, you need to learn to fight.

Cracking a smile to break the tension, and ease some of her worry, I said, “I embody confidence. Nothing to worry about.” Even if it was only half true, another part of me stayed anxious. Bomani had picked up my scent instantly last night. Who’s to say others wouldn’t?

“What are you thinking about?” Valentina asked, catching the shift in me just as quickly. It was like she could always tell when my thoughts started to spiral.

“If my vampire mother was really searching for me, she probably gave the villagers my scent…” I hesitated. “Is there any way to cover that up?”

She pressed her lips together, thinking. After a moment, she spoke. “There’s a potion. It’s called Woukme. I’d have to travel to the mountains to get it, from the Lyoraxe.” Her gaze flicked briefly toward Arianna as she considered it.

“What’s a Lyoraxe?”

“They’re beings that live in the mountains,” she explained. “Charming little things, actually. They love a good barter, and they’re especially easy to please when Ari’s around. They love magic.” She gave me a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Ari and I can go while you meet with my father.”

“Sounds like a plan.” The wagon rolled on in silence. Leaning back against the wooden frame, I let my eyes close as my thoughts drifted. I’d been waiting for this moment since Valentina told me the truth in the woods.

I was about to meet the man who saved me from death itself. He had seen something in me I didn’t even know existed. I wanted to prove him right. I owed him everything. He gave me what my human mother couldn’t, protection from my uncle. And something else I hadn’t expected. Valentina. Her competence. Her persistence. Both… unexpectedly good.

The wagon came to a stop before I even realized we’d arrived. Valentina nudged my shoulder. I blinked, sitting up as she held out her hand, the door already cracked open.

“Ready?” she asked.

“Never been more ready,” I said, trying to sound confident—for her sake as much as mine. Truth was, I was willing… but terrified I’d disappoint him. Pushing the thought aside, I climbed out first, then turned to help Valentina down.

The first thing I noticed about her home was that it wasn’t a house at all. It was a castle. Acres of frozen beauty stretched around it. Ice sculptures lined the path, each mirrored by a marble twin. Pale gray trees, heavy with snow, framed the estate. It looked like something pulled straight from a snowbound dream.

Arianna led the horses off toward shelter while Valentina and I made our way to the house.

She walked a few steps ahead of me, only glancing back once to make sure I was still following. I hadn’t noticed before, but her dress carried a sheer black lace veil attached at the back. Just before we reached the gate, she pulled it over her eyes in one smooth motion.

Reaching into the neckline of her dress, she retrieved a small key and unlocked the gate. “Eyes forward. Chin up. And don’t touch your hair—he sees it as nervous fidgeting,” she warned. I straightened immediately, lifting my chin as instructed.

…and still ran one last hand through my curls.

Valentina smiled faintly at the effort. “His name is Draco Cyrus Corpus. But address him as Lord Corpus,” she said. “He holds great stature. One day, you’ll be just as great—only you’ll be king.”

My stomach dropped with every step forward. This was real. By the scale of the estate alone, it was impossible to deny. I was about to meet the Hand of the King, the man who showed me mercy before I even understood what it meant.