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The second had warm oak-toned skin with a red undertone that shimmered subtly in the hallway light. Her hair was a muted ash brown, styled to perfection, and it framed her hazel eyes beautifully. She stood taller than the redhead, her posture confident, and her uniform fit her like it had been sewn with her body in mind, tailored to every curve and line.

And then there was the last.

Her hair was black as midnight, falling with a silken sheen even in the confines of her bun. Her eyes were pools of stormy grey, almost silver under the lights, and there was something haunting about her face, soft and knowing, with a smile so gentle it almost made me pause. Once the servants passed, we slipped into the study in a blur. Kleitos shut the door behind us without missing a beat.

Lord Draco was already seated at his desk at the far end of the room, his posture rigid and upright. His expression was unreadable, but the tension in his face spoke volumes. His brows were drawn tight, carved deep into his otherwise flawless skin. His eyes were narrowed to sharp slits, watching us like a hawk surveying prey.

“Is it safe to speak here?” I asked, stepping toward the desk. Valentina moved with me, a silent shadow until she settled at my side. I looked down at her, catching the small smile curving her lips, and without thinking, I reached out, letting my fingers slide into hers. Her hand welcomed mine, anchoring me in this moment. She looked up at me briefly, her smile deepening, before her gaze turned back to her father.

“What updates do you have for us?” Kleitos asked, his voice calm but edged with concern. He had ignored my earlier question altogether, not bothering to ask whether it was safe to speak. That made me raise a brow, but I quickly masked my reaction.

Lord Draco gave a single nod. “It’s safe enough here to speak freely,” he confirmed, though his expression remained cold and unreadable. “I had the staff clear this entire wing for the night. I only needed a few hosts during Vaelric’s visit, and now that they’ve finished cleaning, I’ve dismissed them.” He motioned for us to follow him toward the sitting area near the fireplace.

Kleitos and Lord Draco took the two cream-colored chairs flanking the hearth. Each was plush and richly detailed, with elegant etchings pressed into the fabric’s foam and a thick band of gold wrapping around the base. Deep oak legs supported them, capped with matching gold accents.

Kleitos leaned in, his body angled toward Draco, legs spread slightly apart in a stance of casual dominance. In contrast, Lord Draco sat squarely, facing the room with a hollow expression.

Valentina slid in beside me on the matching cream sofa. The cushions met my back like a long-lost welcome. I couldn’t help but feel relief, Arianna’s floor had been a blessing, but this? This was real comfort. After cold carriages, sparse elven chambers, and fraying nerves, this small luxury felt almost indulgent.

“What do you have for us, my lord?” I asked, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees, all my attention locked in.

Lord Draco’s eyes scanned the room briefly before he let out a heavy sigh. “Let me start with the outcome of Valentina’s visit to the city of Ameega.” His expression shifted, no longer cold, but clearly annoyed. The frustration didn’t seem directed at Valentina, but it simmered beneath the surface of his words. “Vaelric reported a slaughter in the night district. Few survivors. The ones who did make it sought an audience with the King. Victor, predictably, refused to see them, but he did speak with Vaelric. They’ve decided to post more guards in the lower district. The King doesn’t know who caused the fires, but he wants someone punished. He believes the attack on the Elguto and the fires may be connected.”

The news stirred a mess of emotions in me. On one hand, I was relieved Valentina’s name wasn’t mentioned. That meant Victor hadn’t drawn a line back to us, yet. On the other hand, the thought of extra guards in the city set my nerves on edge. If we needed to return to Ameega, wouldn’t that make it more dangerous?

Exhaling slowly, my brows knitted together. “So does that mean I won’t be able to go into the city like we’d discussed?” I glanced between Lord Draco and Kleitos.

Kleitos didn’t react much to the guard news, but his face softened the moment I voiced my concern. His eyes tried to reassure me, silently urging me to trust their plan. “No,” he said, calm and certain. “We’ve already talked about this. I wasn’t planning on taking you just yet anyway. This doesn’t change anything. You still need to train.”

“Yeah, I get that,” I replied, shifting forward slightly. “But my scent… it’s starting to come back. I know the last potion was strong, but I’m beginning to smell like me again. If I walk into a city crawling with the King’s Guard in a week or two, they’ll sniff me out. I’ll stand out.” I pointed at myself, then looked back up, my gaze locked between them.

Lord Draco and Kleitos exchanged a knowing look, tinged with the faintest trace of amusement, before Lord Draco spoke. “I anticipated this,” he said smoothly. “Your father and I discussed it back at the demon’s cottage. We’ll need to retrieve a specific relic from the King’s keep suppressing your scent more effectively.” His confidence didn’t ease my mind. If anything,

“That actually makes me feel worse,” I muttered, skepticism clear in my tone. “Didn’t Kleitos nearly kill the King the last time he was in the castle?” I turned fully to him now, my concern sharp. “Won’t he try to kill you?”

“Don’t worry about me,” Kleitos replied coolly, his expression unreadable. “I can take care of myself. I’ll retrieve it before we ever set foot in the city. That’s assuming we even need to. The guards are focused on the ones who started the riot, and Mark was at the center of it. They might find him before we have to act.”

Valentina placed a soothing hand on my back, grounding me with her touch. I shook my head at the thought, trying to push it away, but I couldn’t. I didn’t like the idea of Kleitos putting himself in danger for me. But I understood why. I’d do the same for anyone I loved. I’d lay my life down in a heartbeat… but asking someone else to do the same? That felt wrong.

Sucking a deep steady breath I turned to look at Valentina, but that blasted veil obscured her face. It made her feel a thousand miles away. I couldn’t bear it. With our bond still strained, still muted by the grip of my Naemira, even a simple barrier like lace felt like a wall between us. Before I knew it, I straightened in my seat, my index finger brushing her cheek. Gently, I took hold of the thin veil and lifted it over her head, freeing her eyes, those warm, endless pools that always seemed to look straight through me. The moment our gazes locked, the tightness in my chest loosened. Just like that, the anxiety started to fade.

Valentina blinked in surprise at the gesture, her soft brown skin blooming with the faintest blush. I grinned, satisfied with myself. She glanced nervously at her father, then slowly returned her eyes to mine.

“That was annoying me,” I said simply, the smile still tugging at my lips as I turned back toward the others.

Lord Draco’s eyes flicked between us, his expression unreadable as ever. He knew we were mated, but I had never displayed much affection toward her in front of him. I couldn’t tell if the gesture made him uneasy, but frankly, I didn’t care. Valentina was mine, and I wanted to see her face. She was not some second-class citizen who needed to be veiled. I saw the flicker of challenge in his gaze, and he must’ve seen it in mine too. His mouth twitched at the corners but never quite formed a smile.

“I wouldn’t count on them finding him,” Lord Draco said coolly, voice matter-of-fact. “I withheld most details about Mark, hoping we could locate him first. I didn’t expect they’d actually send guards to investigate, but I couldn’t object either. In any case, we should begin your training soon.”

I nodded. My thoughts were already moving ahead. All this power hidden deep inside me, it called to me. I had felt it once, even if only for a flicker of a second, but it was enough. In that flash, it had surged through my veins like wildfire, like something ancient waking up. And I wanted more. Not just curiosity, this was obsession now. “When do you want to start?” I asked, my voice laced with eager anticipation.

Kleitos answered, matching my energy, “Once you get some blood in you, and maybe finish resting, we can start at first light.”

“You can use the eastern clearing near the Black Sea Beaches,” Lord Draco offered. “It’s secluded enough. The Sable Markets are nearby, but if you stay southeast of the estate, no one should bother you.”

“You’re not coming with us?” I asked.

Draco shook his head. “No. I have a meeting with the King later tonight. I’ll be departing shortly.” He stood, adjusting the long black cloak that flowed around him like smoke. He smoothed back his hair, then turned to Valentina. He crossed the space between them, gently took her hands, and kissed each one. There was a pause, just a beat longer than expected, before he turned to Kleitos. “When I return, I’ll inform you when it’s best to approach the King’s keep.”