Sera's footsteps echoed across the grand marble hall as she finally caught sight of them—Zane and Valerie. The two were laughing, walking side by side, the sunlight pouring down on them through stained-glass windows. Valerie's purple hair shimmered like royalty, and her hand was still hooked around Zane's arm.
She walked toward them with a calm she didn't quite feel. Zane noticed her immediately and waved, his expression a mix of surprise and something unreadable.
Valerie's smile froze for just a heartbeat as she turned to face Sera.
"Oh," she said. "You must be Sera. Zane mentioned you."
Sera smiled tightly. "Sister."
Valerie blinked. "Right, I forget sometimes."
"Because you're always conveniently forgetting things that don't revolve around you?" Sera said sweetly, though there was ice beneath the words.
Zane blinked between the two. "Wait, you two are really sisters?"
"Half-sisters," they said in unison.
Valerie turned her attention back to Zane, brushing imaginary dust off his shoulder. "Well, it was lovely showing you around. I'll leave you with her—since you clearly need to be supervised."
She leaned in toward Zane's ear as if to whisper goodbye—but not before pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. "Till later, handsome," she purred, then turned and walked away with a swish of her skirt.
Sera took a long breath, then grabbed Zane by the collar.
"W-Wait, what are you doing?!" he yelped.
"Damage control," she muttered, dragging him away. "Before your head explodes."
Nyx's voice was barely audible through Zane's stunned silence.
"Oh this... this is gonna be fun."