“Like I nearly died back there,” Valen said with a shrug. He was still weak, and his breathing was labored, but he actually felt better than he had in days.

“The medical staff has assured me you’re being well taken care of,” Nor said, looking around the room. At the monitors behind him, at the white walls, at the pillowcase as she ran her fingertips across a loose thread. Valen realized she was looking at anything but him.

“Nor,” he said. “What I told you before, in your office—”

“I know,” she said. “I want to forgive you, Valen. And to be honest, I didn’t think I would ever be able to. I’m still not sure that I can. You saved me, but you stole him away from me.”

“But I didn’t,” Valen said. “I didn’t shoot that gun, Nor.”

She closed her eyes. “I know.” A deep sigh, as she opened them again. “After you collapsed in my office, I realized something. I want to forgive you, Valen.”

“So forgive me,” he pleaded. “Let’s go back to what we once had. Let’s focus on our mission. Together.”

Nor held up a hand. “I want to. I’m not there yet, but I’m telling you that the desire to at least exists. It will take time. And...and difficult choices.”

Valen raised a brow. “I’ve always been loyal to you, Nor,” he said. “Since day one, I was yours to command.”

The work he’d done to get the people to worship his sister went deep. And his own heart... It was tethered to her, just as his mind was.

He was nothing without Nor. His first family was dead, and his second now treated him like he was made of glass, something that needed to be protected. But later, when their plan came to fruition, and Exonia was opened wide?

He’d have a third family. Perhaps the one he’d always belonged to without knowing.

Nor shifted her weight beside him, and Valen realized he’d been lost in his thoughts again.

“I feel like I want to keep going, but I’m not sure that I can,” Valen admitted. “I made one mistake, Nor, one mistake that was really only half a mistake, because it ended up saving you...and yet you’re ready to throw me away. Cast me out. And what’s terrible is that part of me thinks that you should.”

“No,” Nor said, looking up at him, eyes reddening. “That’s not what I want. You’re a vital part of this mission, Valen. So vital it isn’t even an option to go on without you.”

She trailed off, her lips quivering as she held back tears. Valen knew he wasn’t the main cause of them, and yet the fact that he’d had some hand in them nearly tore him apart.