***Content Warning:
+ Past romantic betrayal
+ Verbal boundary setting with a manipulative ex
Nyxara
Nimra gestured slightly with her fork to a table near the windows on the opposite side of the restaurant. There sat a couple dining on a very bloody-looking meal while engaging in what sounded like small conversation. Based on their meal, I would label them either vampires or shifters.
Nimra confirmed one of my guesses right with her next words. "The Xi clan are vampires who wear a set of artifacts called the Crimson Regalia," she said. "The identity of its members is layered across both pieces. The Blood Chain on the left wrist—usually hidden beneath sleeves. It tracks their essence tier and cultivation. Every charm tells a story they don't share lightly."
"And the second piece?" I asked. "The Heart Crest," she replied. "A chained pendant necklace that displays clan identity, role, and bloodline. It's also an access key—to their inner sanctums, their wards, their secrets. If you see either piece openly, it's intentional. Those are some of the most secretive bastards you will ever meet." Nimra chuckles, and I am intrigued by this last comment.
She eats some more of her pasta before continuing with her mini lecture. "The Dillards created the Glythias," Nimra continued evenly. "A set of rings. The identification ring is worn on the left hand. The family and enclave position displayed plainly at a glance. The cultivation ring is worn on the right hand. Essence tier and affinity indicators visible enough that you will know at a glance what they can roughly do."
"I'm relatively sure that Maeve and Xerxes designed them with the intention of putting their power on display. It suits how they negotiate power." She lets me sit on this information as we both finished our pasta. The waiter brought us plates of steak and potatoes next. We got a quarter into this second round of food before she continued.
"The Reign Clan's artifacts are named the Veylok bands. One for identity, one for cultivation. Both earned through blood. The left binds them to the clan's honor. The right is reforged at every tier by the wearer themselves."
"That sounds…" I searched for the word. "Primal. Unforgiving. Intense." Nimra supplied. "They believe strength must be proven repeatedly or it rots. Power. Dominance. Legacy. Control. All etched into metal and memory." She allowed me to absorb this information, then her expression softened just a fraction. "And then there is us with our Arceńe."
Her eyes flicked to my ears, and mine to hers. It suddenly hit me that all my family wore similar earrings. The ear clasp of Nimra's had three charms to my two. And the rings in her right ear were different from mine. "Arceńe do not announce our dominance," she said after letting me observe her. "It announces responsibility. The left clasp tells others who you are both internally and externally. The right hoops record what you have survived, learned, and cultivated." My fingers brushed my ear without thinking.
"Our enclave believes legacy is not how loudly you claim power—it's how carefully you carry it." Nimra reached across the table then, resting her hand over mine. "And today," she added gently, "you will once more pick up the mantle of that legacy. When you are ready, you will create your own personal crest that will be made into a talisman charm to complete your left Arceńe." She tapped her own crest charm, making it faintly glow red.
I smiled as I began to consider what I would want my personal crest to look like. We shifted to talking about what shops we wanted to visit when I felt a presence that made my body tingle as it approached our table.
Nimra's eyes were focused on whoever was approaching.Her demeanor shifted back to the cooler, distant version I hadn't seen in a while. She set her fork down and seemed to be readying herself. Before the person reached our table, she spoke three words that I immediately understood despite them being vague. "He is here."
Koba. Koba is approaching me right now. Am I ready for this confrontation? I guess I could make a run for it, and Nimra would support me. I met her eyes, and she gave a small nod.
—If you wish to leave out the back, I will signal Lōppi to escort you while I block him from following you.— I shook my head even as my hands shook. I attempted to send a message back. I could only send two words. —I'll stay.— I felt her approval even as I lifted my head to meet a pair of lavender eyes in the face of the man I loved beyond reason in another life. Wow, lavender eyes suit him well. His thick braids and pale lavender hair made him even more attractive than his earth counterpart. He looks mature and responsible with his perfect posture in a way I think earth Koba wanted to be, but this Koba does effortlessly.
While I took him in, he appeared to be taking me in as well. I don't know if he liked what he saw of me due to his neutral expression, but I do sense there is something about me he is surprised about. The longer I look at him silently, the more his neutral expression cracks, and he begins to appear confused and unsure.
He breaks eye contact with me, but he kept looking my way as he turns his attention to Nimra. With a bow, he said with a smooth voice, "I greet Matriarch Ajei. Forgive my rudeness in delaying to greet you. If it would not be too additionally rude, may I speak to my fiancée privately?"
Nimra looked at me before nodding her agreement. I saw Koba's brow furrow as he noted our interaction. "You may. Nyxara agrees to speak with you. You can sit over there, two tables away." Nimra quickly negotiated the location on my behalf with a wink. Koba bowed again, then held out his hand for me to take. I ignored the hand and walked around him to the table.
The waiters here must have some kind of surveillance array set up because the moment we sat down, a sandwich with fries was placed in front of Koba. My plate from the other table was placed in front of me. Koba tried to order drinks for us, but I spoke over him, requesting another sublime raspberry gin lemonade. Koba looked at me strangely for a moment, then his face shifted back to neutral.
"I thought you hated raspberry lemonade. And since when do you drink gin?" He picked up his sandwich, taking a bite. I answered his unasked question after I took another bite of steak. "I think there are a lot of things about me you and many others don't know the truth about. Minette wasn't the best friend I thought she was, and you haven't been the fiancé and future mate I thought you would be. Which is why I've broken off personal ties with you and Minette. Did she not tell you?" I watched as confusion and annoyance appeared in his eyes.
Don't blame me for making matters clear immediately. I don't know all that you've done to cause Grey to do what she did, but I won't keep you close only for you to betray me. Looking at you, you look different enough from my Koba that I'm not confused, but between this body's mixed signals and my own hang-ups, I won't let you be the one to break me.