Three days later, Viper stood outside in the palace gardens staring blindly across the colorful landscape. He started when he felt an arm slide through his. Turning his head, he stared down into the worried eyes of his mother.
Rosario smiled and turned her head to gaze out of the sunlit garden as well. They stood like that for several minutes before she spoke. Viper felt some of the despair he was feeling slowly dissolve.
“I like your mate,” she murmured in a quiet voice. “She is different from Riley.”
Viper nodded. “I don’t think our world could handle another Riley,” he muttered before he winced at his words. “I didn’t mean that like it sounded. She is perfect for Vox.”
Rosario chuckled as they started walking along the path. “Yes, she is,” she admitted. “Vox would have walked over a
