Family wasn’t supposed to destroy. Family was supposed to build, to support, always.

“I’m not good enough for you or Exonia,” Valen said quietly.

Nor shook her head vehemently. “You are. You have no idea just how good you are.”

But then she looked away again, refusing to meet his gaze. As if just watching him pained her inside.

“How do we go on?” Valen asked. “How do we move past this?”

She wiped a hand across her eyes as the tears finally fell. “We make a choice,” Nor said.

“A choice?” Valen asked.

Nor nodded. “We choose to go on, even when it hurts us. Even when it may tear us apart.” She reached out and took his hand, squeezing it once before Valen felt her enter his mind.

“Get some rest, little brother,” she said through their mental doorway. Valen was shocked to feel it open again, to feel that connection between them. It wasn’t forgiveness—not fully, not yet. He could still see her battling within herself, still feel the tension coming off her.

But he would take this small step forward today, and wait for another one tomorrow.

Nor helped him lean back, adjusting his pillows before she turned to leave. She gazed at him, eyes heavy with sadness, as she stopped at the door. “The mission is what matters,” she said firmly. “And we’ll do it together, every step of the way.”

Then she left him alone with his thoughts.

Exhaustion called to Valen, and he wanted, desperately, to sleep. Now was as good a time as any. But before he could float away to his dreams, the door to his room opened again, and Darai stepped inside, clad in heavy gray robes.

Valen frowned at the sight of the old adviser.

“I’ve been instructed to rest,” he said, “by the queen herself. You can come back later.”

Darai ignored him as he usually did, taking the chair Nor was in moments ago. “You look terrible,” he said.

Valen huffed out a laugh. “I could say the same about you.”

“I believe you have, many times before.”

“That’s because it’s true,” Valen snapped.

Darai’s eyes looked about the room, taking in the machines as if he were disgusted by them. He crossed his arms, leaning back comfortably in the chair as he focused his gaze again on Valen. “Your power is killing you, boy.”

Valen felt like he’d just been punched in the face.

He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.