The road ahead is long

Right now she was too focused on picking up the broken pieces of her life to harbor anger towards the man she had pledged her life to. Just as the world was beginning to return to normal everything changed as Hattori left her. Experiencing such a betrayal rivaled any other event to throw her life into shambles. More impactful than the death of her father and much harder than taking the throne for herself. Hattori came into her life and made himself essential, she built her future around him, and now he was gone. Venom shook her head as she tried to rid herself of the thoughts, she needed to go on a trip, she needed to get out of Ashen for a while. She needed to reevaluate her priorities.

Venom was tying a couple more loose ends so she could freely go and visit the other packs of the Empire, a suave excuse to get her out of her own head. The Empress was finishing her job here when she heard pawsteps in the hall and her sunset gaze lifted to see Kiyo’s pale form emerge from the shadow. Her heart clenched, but she remained impassive. Now was not the time to break apart. "Of course, Lady Kiyo.” Venom replied, gesturing an invitation for the woman to join her. That she hadn’t left right after her son was a clear sign that her loyalties were at the very least split. Venom would hear her out.

"Venom"