REMI POV
I fell asleep the second Nero left.
Couldn't help it. My body just gave up. Every muscle ached. Every nerve ending felt raw.
The bath. The punishment. The s*x. The nosebleed.
Too much. All of it.
Finally, Parrot sighed in my head. Sleep. We EARNED this.
I pulled the sheets up. Closed my eyes.
And fell.
The palace gardens were beautiful.
Sunlight everywhere. Flowers I'd never seen before. Trees heavy with fruit.
And people.
My people.
"Sally!" I called.
My little sister turned. Grinned. Waved.
She was older. Maybe thirteen now. Running through the gardens with Nelly close behind.
And Mr. Broody.
Actually smiling.
Playing with—
I stopped breathing.
Pups.
Three of them.
Tiny. Maybe two years old. Dark hair like Nero. But my eyes. My nose.
Mine.
Ours.
One of th
