Chapter 19

After six months of sleepless nights and the chaotic joy of motherhood, I was finally regaining my strength. The twins, Sebastian and , were healthy and thriving, and the bond between us was deepening with each passing day. Still, my mind often drifted to my training, the whispers of the council about my potential, and the ever-looming uncertainty surrounding Sebastian’s future.

My mother had been relentless in her requests for visits. She believed it was her duty to mold me into the woman she wanted me to be, and she seemed particularly insistent on impressing upon me the importance of maintaining family ties. But with each visit, the weight of her expectations felt heavier, clashing with the new life I was trying to build for myself and my children.

Rose had been my lifeline during this tumultuous time. She was a steadfast friend and a seasoned operative, skilled in both the arts of combat and stealth. With the twins often nestled in her arms or cooing in their crib, she somehow