"I want you to tell more about Lysandra."
"Oh?" she mused. "Go on, ask questions."
"What was she like?"
"A lot like you..."
"But you don’t know ."
"I don’t need to. You know yourself, which answers all your questions. The only thing that differed was her level of commitnt to duty. Even though I protested for her not to leave, it was her determination that made my husband’s words final."
Valestra smiled as if she could relive that mont. "You should have seen her. She was the smallest of us all, but she had a spirit that was bigger than anything. She was willing to preserve our bloodline even if it ant marrying a human."
She was willing to go through all that? I see what kind of person she was now; it brought closure to that I was everything about her. Maybe in so way, if I had grown up with a noble status, I would have been bound by duty too.
"Lysandra was very soft at heart, and even if it brings great distaste, I think in so way she might have fallen in love with the archduke."
A sting found my chest, and my expression turned sour. How cruel. Knowing who Richard was, he never gave a thought to my mother; she was just a tool to be used. It breaks my heart just thinking about how she could fall for that monster.
"Perhaps I shouldn’t have said that," Valestra said when she noticed my change in expression.
"It’s okay... sotis we don’t choose who we love," I said, rembering Damon.
"How far long are you?" she suddenly asked.
"26 weeks."
"Ha... I can barely sll the snowblood on you, which makes sense."
"What do you an?"
"When a snowblood is with child, our cold blood runs warm; in other words, we beco more human than we’re ant to be and lose our powers. We’re at our most vulnerable."
That explained why I no longer craved blood and why I couldn’t feel my ice.
"Do not worry, dear. You will have a safe delivery."
"How can you be sure?"
"I just know."
"You have far too much faith in a stranger like ."
She dropped the teacup on the saucer. "Shocking, right? Even though I have lived for far too long and seen so much grimness. I have been around since the beginning of the war, yet here I am, casting all my dice on a stranger who is my granddaughter." She poked my nose.
I giggled.
"Whatever caused such a war in the first place? Why did the moonbloods and snowbloods have to go so far?"
She sighed heavily. "We’re two powerful species, so different, yet so alike in a way. One wants to thrive over the other; one wants to oppose for a sense of instinct to destroy what they consider a threat. So may say the hate was born in our blood or we created it to make the balance ourselves. Two powerful species shouldn’t coexist in the sa realm, whatever nonsense."
"So which do you think it was?"
"I think the leaders of that age were greedy and foolish enough to throw us into a century of war."
I snorted.
"It’s true." She giggled. "Oh, you sound just like her."
"Do I?" I said, amused.
"Yes, as if so pig has passed by."
My cheeks flushed.
"Now, child, tell all about your life. I want you to tell everything."
"I don’t think the early monts of my life are sothing worthwhile. I should warn you, it’s not pleasant for either."
She held my hand. "All the more reason to know, as your Grandmother, it brings nothing but peace to know how my Eloise has fared all this ti. The good and the bad. Everything."
~•~
Valestra was in tears when I finished telling her my story.
"I see..." She held my hand tightly, shaken too. "It must have been so hard."
"I tried to make the best of it, however I could. The great mont of it was falling in love with Drevon."
"Oh my gods!" she sobbed, using her handkerchief to dry her tears. "I should be thankful to him, too."
I smiled.
We were distracted when Snow walked to us. Over the course of the months, he had gotten bigger, a far unusual growth than I imagined.
"Ah... will you look at that," Valestra said and stretched her hand.
Snow stepped closer without hesitation and allowed her to stroke him.
"He’s usually not friendly to those he’s not familiar with."
"What’s his na?"
"Snow."
"My dear Snow, you found your way to her. You did well."
I narrowed my eyes in confusion.
"When he t you, did he caress your belly?"
"Yes?"
"I see, I see. In our legend, it is known that a white fox cos from the coldest of the north to a pregnant snowblood."
"That explains it..." I looked at Snow. "I have always wondered how he ca so far without a mother."
"Though this doesn’t apply to all snowbloods. The last ti it happened was centuries ago when the first Count was born. It symbolizes a greater power, and this fox will grow to be with the child as a protector."
"Snow is my son’s protector?"
"Yes."
I smiled, glancing at Snow, who was still in Valestra’s embrace.
"Thank you, Snow. You have always been there for us."
"Soon he will venture back into the far north."
"What, why?"
"As you notice already, he usually goes missing, that’s the sign."
"What sign?" I asked, already shaken about Snow leaving.
"That you’re close to birth. Don’t worry, he’ll co back when the ti is right."
Snow looked at , and staring into his silver-blue eyes was like the first ti we t. I could see myself through his eyes and him through mine.
I stretched my hand to him, and he ca closer, allowing to caress him.
"I’ll miss you."
He whined.
I couldn’t help it as tears slid down my face.
"Don’t take too long, alright?"
He opened his eyes, looking at one last ti before he turned and walked away.
~•~
It wasn’t the sa without Snow closed by, but knowing he’d co back gave a sense of reassurance. I couldn’t wait to see him again, and hopefully by then, I’d have brought my son into this world.
Valestra and I walked through my gardens with arms locked tightly.
We have talked a lot in the past week, and the more I got to know about her, the more I got to know that she was such a remarkable person. It really stayed true to the saying... Never judge a book by its cover.
"This is beautiful... he made this for you?"
I nodded, feeling a sense of pride.
"Who knew a lycan would be so romantic. I wish my husband had taken a few notes from his book. I certainly would have had more children enough to make up a clan."
I laughed, and she followed in. However, the sound died in my throat.
I really didn’t want to ruin this lighthearted mont, but I had to know what lies in her heart, too. Certainly, there was warmth like the sun, a deep contrast to what she is.
"Do you hold a grudge?" I mumbled softly.
"What grudge?"
"Drevon..." I exhaled sharply. "He—"
"Richard used him, my dear. The fault lies not with him." She patted my arm. "Both moonbloods and snowbloods have taken far too much from each other; the humans took from us, too. We shouldn’t dwell if we want to move forward."
"You have a pure soul, Valestra."
She chuckled. "You didn’t expect it, did you?"
"Honestly, I didn’t. I thought snowbloods would be more vicious."
"Oh, we are. You see, after the war, I made many changes. Changes that were necessary to ensure our survival."
"What kind of changes?" I asked, curious.
"You see, the snowbloods wanted to go to war again."
"Again?"
"Again."
"They would have thrown their lives away. No offense, Valestra, they wouldn’t have stood a chance against Drevon."
"None taken, my dear. Believe , that was exactly what I thought too. They were so close to getting us extinct. Snowbloods are stubborn, and it was hard to get them to let go. Thankfully, I’m a Winter, one of the powerful clans, so we had the authority. I had my twin grandchildren by my side, too."
"Orianna is a twin?" I asked, amazed.
"Yes, her brother Orion is back ho taking care of affairs while I’m gone. Just like you, Orianna and Orion are both the last of my bloodline."
"Ho..." I mumbled. "What is that place like?"
"Velithra..." she said in a sing-tone voice.
"Velithra." I tasted the na on my lips.
"Once the great country of Snowbloods, but now it’s our surviving ho, with what we have left, but still magical. I wish you could see it. There the sun never rises."
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