THE VEINS OF MY CITY

She nods her head to her Aunt?s question, smiling at her approval. At least she has done something right, and she is happy to hear that Natalya has already been tutoring Gaia. ?I would like to make Gaia the Princess on her birthday. She seems ready for it,? Virgil notes. It is then that Natalya questions, however, if there is anything else that the golden Empress wishes to speak of. Heavy lids close, ready for the worse, ready for trials to strip her name, banishments from ever seeing her children again.

?I slept with Syrinx, the former alpha of Amenti,? she informs her aunt. ?I think I may be with his children,? she breathes. ?There is not excuse, but there are explanations. I never had the chance to introduce her to you properly, but I was in love with Raisa, the woman whom I crossed lands to give birth next to. We raised our children together as if we were their only parents. And she?she just left. She left the children the bore, the children I love as my own, in the hands of someone else. And she left without saying goodbye,? she says. There is such a broken tone to her voice.
She feels the weakness seeping in her limbs, but doesn?t realize her limbs have collapsed until she inhales the dirt. She sneezes briefly, blinking as she looks up at her Aunt Natalya. ?The gods hate me, my Aunt. They hate me no matter what I do in my life,? she says.