The morning sun spilled across the Valdemar's estate, warm and golden. Anwen stood at the front steps of the mansion, ribbons tied neatly in her hair, her pale dress trimmed with the same muted blue Aimes wore on his coat. Matching colors again—Laia would have teased them endlessly if she were here.
Beside her, Aimes stood with his arms folded, face carved in stone as usual. They both waited, eyes fixed on the approaching carriage rattling down the gravel path. The servants had already started whispering about the Duke's nephew, and even the guards seemed more alert than usual.
The carriage wheels screeched to a stop in front of the mansion gates, and the coachman swung down to open the door.
A boy stepped out—not gloomy and sharp like the vampires Anwen was used to, but vibrant, loud, and full of motion, like someone had tossed color onto a black-and-white painting.
His hair was cut messily, half wine-red and half golden, just like his eyes—one burning red, the other glowing gold. His fair skin looked sun-kissed compared to Aimes's cold pallor, and when he smiled, a sharp fang peeked out even though his lips were barely parted.
Unlike Aimes's lean, graceful frame, this boy was broad-shouldered, his uniform fitting around his muscles. He was as tall as Aimes, yet carried himself with the casual ease of someone who thought the world was already his.
"Remington Valdemar has arrived!" he declared as if anyone needed announcing, arms wide like he was returning home from conquering a kingdom.
Anwen blinked. This was…very different from what she expected of Aimes's cousin.
"Remington," Aimes said flatly, his voice already laced with irritation.
"Cousin!" Remi grinned, striding over and immediately brushing his hands across Aimes's shoulders. "Tsk. You've still got imaginary fur on you." He dusted at Aimes's immaculate coat like it was covered in dirt.
Aimes's poker face twitched. He smacked Remi's hand away with ice-cold precision. Then Remi's gaze shifted—and landed right on Anwen.
"Oh?" His mismatched eyes widened. "What's this? Don't tell me the Valdemar mansion has grown ghosts while I was gone!"
Before Anwen could squeak out a reply, Remi leaned down and poked her cheek with one strong finger. Her skin squished under the pressure.
"She's real soft for a ghost, though…"
Aimes immediately shoved his cousin back, voice sharp. "Hands off. You're only allowed to touch her during lessons."
Remi gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. "Lessons? Cousin, don't be stingy! She's your little sister now—which means she's my little sister too!"
"Cousin," Aimes corrected coldly. "Not sister. And as if Anwen would want a mutt like you for sibling"
Remi looked at Anwen with a grin, leaning down like he expected backup. "What do you say, little ghost? Want a proper big brother? I promise I'm a better candidate than this icicle."
Anwen blinked, caught in the middle of the storm. Slowly, her gaze flicked to Aimes. He stood tall and stiff, not sparing her a glance, though his shoulders were tense.
She hesitated—then slipped closer to him and wrapped both hands around his arm.
"I'm fine with just Aimes as my brother," she said softly.
For the first time, Aimes looked down at her. His face didn't change, but the faintest flicker of satisfaction touched his eyes.
Anwen beamed inwardly. Good choice, Anwen. Very good choice. She mentally patted herself on the back.
"Unbelievable." Remi huffed, brushing past both of them, though the smile never left his lips. "Fine, fine. Reject me all you want. Where's my favorite uncle, then? Lord Dorian must be dying to see me."
"He's your only uncle," Aimes said flatly.
"And he's at the court right now," Anwen piped up quickly, eager to contribute.
Remi sighed, dramatically clutching his chest again. "What a cruel world, to welcome me home without my dearest uncle!"
The basket was open, and the garden smelled faintly of roses and honeyed bread. Anwen sat cross-legged, holding a fork like a scepter, her eyes darting between the boys.
"Remi," she said suddenly, "what's it like living in the mountains? Is it cold? Do the wolves howl all night? Do you climb trees? Do you fight bears?"
Remi, sprawled on the blanket with his mismatched eyes glinting in the sun, grinned wide enough for his fang to show. "Yes, yes, sometimes, and only if the bears start it first."
Anwen gasped. "You fought a bear?"
"Pushed it down a hill. Same thing," he said with a shrug, then stuffed half a sandwich in his mouth like he hadn't eaten in days. "Now this—" he mumbled, spraying crumbs, "—this is too neat. Where's the meat dripping off the bone? Where's the stew you have to eat with your hands?"
He reached across the blanket to grab another roll, but Aimes smacked his hand with a spoon, eyes narrowing. "You're disgusting."
Remi laughed, unbothered, and tore the roll with his teeth anyway. "Disgusting keeps you alive out there, cousin. You wouldn't last a day without your silk napkins and butlers."
"I'd last longer than you think," Aimes replied flatly, slicing his food into perfect pieces.
Anwen tilted her head, caught between them. "So…the capital is tidy and proper like Aimes, and the mountains are messy and loud like you?"
Remi slapped a hand to his chest, pretending to be moved. "Exactly! She understands me already."
He leaned forward and poked her cheek with his crumb-dusted finger. "See? This one's got brains. I like you more than your statue of a brother"
Anwen giggled, but Aimes' hand shot out, swatting Remi's finger away before it lingered too long. His face remained unreadable, but his voice was sharp. "You don't get to like her"
Remi rolled onto his back, unbothered, his heterochromia eyes gleaming at the sky. "Fine, fine. But when she wants adventure, she'll come to me. I'll show her real skies, not these painted gardens."
Anwen clasped her hands over her knees, torn between the promise of wild mountain adventures and the security of her gloomy but protective brother. Still, she sneaked a glance at Aimes, gauging his reaction.
Aimes didn't look at her, just cut another bite of food and handed it to her, "She doesn't need adventures."
"Boring," Remi said, grinning at Anwen upside down. "You hear that? If you stick with him, you'll die of boredom before corruption gets you."
Anwen laughed so hard she almost dropped her food.