Koreena licked her still slightly swollen lips nervously as she thought of what to share. She sighed softly letting her hand fall from his chest as he rolled to face her. Her family life was a touchy subject for her. She didn’t wish to sour this beautiful evening with her issues so she would try and and tread lightly.

“My mother,” she smiled sadly as a picture of her mother flashed in her mind. “My mother was amazing, her name was Leila. She had white almost silvery hair, her skin the color of dark rich coffee with a splash of cream. She was a Falleni dancer in the fighting rings. Always saved for the main event, the way she moved was captivating. When she was pregnant with my brother and I she only had half of her soul.”

“Half a soul?” her recent lover rose a brow, eyes moving briefly up her form. “May I ask … how? If you do not wish to say, then that is very fine.” His voice was calm, soft and patient.

KC smiled at him as she rolled over onto her stomach. “I don’t mind, my mother used to tell me the story all the time.” She thought for a moment on where to start. “Well my grandmother and grandfather tried to rebel against their king, I guess you could call them euserpers. There was a snake in their ranks and they were found out before any plan could really be done. My mother’s sister Lynnleigh sacrificed herself for my mother. They were all brought in and my grandfather and great uncle were executed, my grandmother, Simone was taken away and my mother imprisoned to serve the King’s cruel children.”

She paused for a moment taking a deep breath before pressing on with the story.

“Leila, my mother served the youngest and most cruelest prince, he did horrible things until one day she fought back. She ended up slaughtering him in the same bed he had defiled her so many times before. As punishment the King took half of her soul banishing her from her world, until she met my father and they both retrieved it and my grandmother.”

His brows lifted higher with each plot twist of the story, until they were central to his temples. His lips were a thin line when she was finished, full of grim understanding and empathy, living the pity to the best degree it should be given. When her voice went silent he let the quiet reign for a little longer as he held her gaze, then he dropped his eyes, looking to her hands resting on the mattress.

“I am sorry for it. She sounds like she was a very strong woman. Sometimes I wish I had parents to raise me, rather than the everlasting void of Erebus,” he looked back into her eyes. “Your family sounds remarkable.”

She smiled kindly at him, sadness still in her dark gaze. “She was, my brother is the opposite of me. All happy and obsessed with our father. A pain really.” She laughed softly shaking her head. Koreena looked at him, his own expression mirrored hers.

“Hey,” her hand caressed his cheek tenderly. “You have a family, you have your daughter- and me. I will be here when you need me.”