Nero POV
I woke up before dawn.
First thought — no pain.
Second thought — still no pain.
Third thought — when was the last time I woke up and the first thing I felt wasn't the venom?
The tea cup was on the table beside me. Someone had brought it in .
Her tea. Her specific blend.
She'd sent it through a guard.
She was Still furious with me but Still making sure I didn't suffer.
I held the cup for a moment and drank.
Then set it down carefully.
Idiot, I thought. I have been such a complete i***t.
The morning was different.
I couldn't explain it exactly. The venom was still there. The black lines hadn't disappeared overnight.
But something had shifted.
Future Remi's hands. The quiet. The first real sleep I'd had in longer than I could remember.
Today.
I was going to find re
