Nora's POV
"I'll handle it," James declares without a moment's hesitation.
"That's insane," I counter. "What happens if Famine overwhelms you? What if you lose yourself completely? You managed to avoid madness before, but you were also existing in some kind of temporal limbo while trapped in the Underworld."
"True," James acknowledges. "But I retained every memory, darling. Famine never achieved total dominance." He pauses, his brow creasing as he searches for the right words. "It felt more like I was awaiting commands." He shifts onto his side, gently stroking Renata's tiny head. "The demon did possess me though. I couldn't dismount from that horse. You'll need to use every ounce of your power to force me from that saddle."
"I understand." Renata drifts back into slumber, and I realize I'll eventually mourn the loss of this peaceful newborn phase. She's been relatively manageable, though sometimes I feel reduced to nothing more than her personal feeding station.
