Despite the heavy anger seeping through Nora's bloodstream at Felicity's newest edition of manipulation, the moment her head hit the pillow, she was asleep.

Morning arrived slowly. Nora curled further into a ball under her covers, blissfully warm in the cocoon of blankets she'd created. The air in the room was cold, the tip of her nose freezing. Even with the sunlight peeking through the curtains and tracing a line across the deep green duvet, it didn't do enough to heat up the room.

Nora sat up and stretched her arms above her head with a yawn. She glanced at the opulent room around her. Creator, it was just as fancy, if not more so, in the sunlight.

She took a breath, then, tentatively, sent a line of thought into the universe. Eli?

You're awake, his voice sounded in her mind. Have you slept enough?

She snorted. I suppose so.

Good. Are you hungry?

She wasn't. Not yet. She'd had a bowl of chicken broth and a few crackers last night. Her stomach may need some time to get used to a lot of food again. No. What time is it?

Eleven.

Not too late then.

Jackson wants to talk to you when you're ready, Eli said. And then we have a meeting this afternoon.

A meeting?

Nora wasn't sure how Eli was able to send a chuckle down their telepathic line, but when it arrived, it sent goosebumps over her skin. She would never tire of that sound. Trust me, love, he said.

Love. He'd called her that last night too. She found she would absolutely not complain. The syllables rolled beautifully off his lips...er, mind.

Give me fifteen minutes. Nora told him.

Sure. I'll meet you outside your door when you're ready.

Nora grabbed her glasses off the dark nightstand and slowly got up. The marble floor was ice against her bare feet as she made her way to the bathroom. Right outside the door, a set of clothes rested on a long, skinny table. Nora grabbed the black jeans and heavy emerald green sweater. A small note rested next to them:

Green is a great color for that hair of yours. Hope these are okay.

-Lizzie

Had Lizzie snuck in this morning to drop these off? A smile crept onto her face.

Creator bless Lizzie Leonger.

Nora dressed, washed her face, brushed her teeth, and then opened the doors to the hallway.

Eli lounged against the wall outside her room, sipping on a...smoothie? When the doors opened, he grinned around the red straw in his mouth and handed her a matching plastic cup.

I know you said you weren't hungry, he said in her mind. But you need to replenish your energy. A smoothie is a good start.

Nora accepted the cold cup and took a sip, her eyes tracing over Eli. This morning he was in a simple pair of fitted dark joggers and a white hoodie under a light denim jacket. His dark hair was damp and in disarray atop his head—as if he'd only recently stepped out of the shower.

She loved his disarray – the tiny bit of wildness among his controlled life. Nora stepped forward and brushed a few stray strands off his forehead. It didn't fix the mess that was his hair, but it did help him see a little better.

Fresh soap and cologne whispered under her nose as Eli got closer. "How are you feeling?"

She took another sip of the smoothie—some type of berry mixture—and let it wash over her. Her bare toes curled against the chilled hallway floor.

Eli nodded down at something next to her. A pair of black house slippers and socks sat adjacent to the door. "Wear those so you don't get cold. The palace is big and old. It takes time to get the place heated, and even then, most of the heat travels to the ceiling."

Nora curled her lips over her teeth, a lightness spreading over her limbs. "Thank you."

Eli led her through the wings of the palace, up a long set of stairs, and through a wide, expansive room, only to turn again down another wing. By the time he stopped outside a set of wide double doors (which, arguably looked exactly like every other set of doors in this palace), Nora was dizzy and horribly confused. She sipped at her smoothie, letting the cold drink settle in her stomach. It didn't matter that she didn't know her way around the place. She wasn't the one that lived there. Plus, Eli or a staff member would be there to guide her where she needed to go.

Right?

Before opening the door, Eli cocked his head at her, his thick locks shifting with the movement. "It'll get more familiar, I promise."

She only raised an eyebrow. Will it?

"It will," he said with a half-smirk. She jerked slightly. She hadn't meant to send that thought over to him, and by the look on his face, he knew it.

Eli knocked on the tall, imposing doors before opening one of them. The doors led into a surprisingly small room with a waist-height oak desk across from the entrance. Two cushioned armchairs and a small table rested along another wall with a stack of magazines lined up like fallen dominoes along its surface. Another door, almost as tall as the wall itself, stood open on the left, leading into a bigger office.

Avery, the Commander's assistant and fiancée, beamed over at them from behind the desk. Today she had on a pair of purple frames that worked nicely with her dark hair. "Eli, Nora. You're just in time. The Commander's waiting for you."

The Commander's voice trailed out from the open doorway, "First name, Avery. We discussed this."

A tinge of pink appeared along Avery's cheeks. "Sorry!" She turned back to Eli and Nora. "Jackson is waiting for you."

Nora bit her lip to hold back a laugh. It must be hard to separate work and personal life in Avery's position.

Eli moved towards the open doorway, but Nora stopped in front of Avery. "I like your glasses, Avery. They suit you."

Avery pushed the frames up with her pointer finger. "Why thank you, Nora." She leaned forward over the desk and whispered. "You didn't hear this from me, but Eli likes the color red. I have a website that will ship prescription glasses right to your door if you're ever interested."

Nora smiled and whispered back, "Thank you."

Avery winked.

Jackson Leonger waited for them behind his desk, glancing up from the papers spread out around the surface. "Come in," he said as he moved a small stack from one side to the other.

Eli dropped down in one of the armchairs across from Jackson's desk. Nora slowly followed suit.

"You have a garbage back there?" Eli asked Jackson.

Wordlessly, Jackson held a hand out for Eli's smoothie cup and tossed it somewhere under the expansive desk. Nora found herself frowning at the simple gesture. Jackson Leonger was on the news all the time, was praised by the public for having his thumb on the pulse point of the military, and occasionally, he was heralded as much as their own prince was. To be here, to see him performing such a mundane task for his brother was...odd.

But also sweet. She'd only gotten flashes of Jackson that one time they'd had family dinner together and then again last night. What she'd noticed so far was wonderful.

She'd never had siblings. Even Felicity, as her stepsister, had never acted as anything more than...well, she wouldn't even call it an acquaintance. Seeing Jackson, Eli, Lizzie, and Ian together. She wanted that kind of love with an ache that felt like needles pressing into her heart.

Jackson slid a few papers into another folder next to his elbow, and then stopped to look at Nora. "I understand a lot is happening for you right now, and if we had the luxury of endless time, I'd hold off, but unfortunately I can't."

Nora gripped her smoothie between her palms and waited.

"We need to have a discussion about the next steps," Jackson said. "I didn't want you to hear it from someone you don't know."

Nora braced herself. She had a feeling she knew where this was going.

Jackson placed his fingertips on the pile of file folders about three inches high at the edge of his desk. "With the evidence we've collected, Ms. Matthews will be put away for quite a bit of time. Blackmail, tax evasion, child abuse, bribery, among other things. Our courts are a little behind, so her arraignment will be next week."

A surge of emotions struck her – relief being the greatest of them. She fiddled with the straw on her cup, unable to find words. So instead she simply said, "okay."

Jackson put his hands on the arms of his leather chair. "I want you to understand that you're not required to do or say anything when it comes to Mallory. Everything at this point is entirely up to you and what you feel comfortable with."

Nora nodded. She appreciated the calm expression on Jackson's face. He truly meant what he said – if she didn't feel comfortable, she didn't have to do anything or say anything to anyone.

"The legal team may want you to testify against Mallory if they feel it is needed," Jackson said. He met her eyes. "If you do not want to, let me know, and we will find a way to get you out of testifying."

Nora swallowed and glanced over at Eli. Her mate looked at her supportively and reached over to squeeze her arm.

Her throat began to ache, the slight pressure of tears settling behind her eyes. "I will testify if it's needed." Her hand clenched around her smoothie cup. She owed it to her father to speak the truth. To make sure that what was done was what's right. Plus, she owed it to herself, to make sure Mallory didn't get away with what she'd done.

Jackson awarded her a small smile. "Eli told me you were strong," he said. "I think he downplayed just how much."

The pressure grew behind her eyes.

Jackson sobered. "There are a few other things."

Eli took the smoothie from her and set it on the floor by the leg of her chair. Then he took her hand and just held it, softly, between both of his, in a show of silent support.

Nora was dangerously close to crying at the quiet strength of the gesture.

"Because Mallory was your guardian, she will no longer be able to care for you in the eyes of the child services."

Nora's entire body clenched. She hadn't thought of that. Why hadn't she thought of that?

"I don't have any family that would—" her voice broke. She looked at Eli, knowing fear was stark against her face.

"I'm late, I'm so sorry!" Lizzie breezed in through the doorway.

She was dressed up this morning, in a maroon, long-sleeved dress that stopped just above her knees. Her hair was done in beautifully perfect red-tinted ringlets that bounced as she strode in. "I tried to cut out of the photoshoot as early as possible." She strode to Jackson's desk and perched at the end. "Where are we at?"

Jackson shot Lizzie a look. "Your timing could've been better."

"Did you tell her yet?" Lizzie asked and, without waiting for an answer, glanced at Nora. "Did he tell you yet?"

"No, I did not tell her yet," Jackson said.

Lizzie stood up, and bounced once, her black, wedge-heeled sneakers coming together. She made a noise of excitement, then made herself take a breath. "Sorry, sorry, I know this is a whirlwind of a conversation. But..."

"Just tell her," Jackson sighed.

"Nora," Lizzie said carefully. "I know I'm really not that much older than you. You're sixteen, right?"

Nora nodded.

"Well, Jackson was telling me about your situation and what would happen next. He mentioned you didn't have any family. And I know you don't really know us that well but...well, if it's alright with you, I'd like to start the process to become your legal guardian."

Nora's heart stopped.

"It'd really only be for the two years that you're still considered a minor," Lizzie said, "I don't want you thinking I'd run your life in any way. It's just I think about your situation and Eli and, well, we don't want you going anywhere anytime soon and if you're put in the system, there's a lot of shifting. You may end up with a family all the way north, or even southwest near Daria lake, and I cannot imagine you anywhere but here with us, so—"

Tears dripped down Nora's cheeks.

Eli came and crouched in front of her, his hands on her knees as he looked up at her. "Only if you want, Nora."

Nora took off her glasses and wiped at her eyes with the bottom of her palm. "I do. I really do."

"Then it's settled," Lizzie beamed. "I'll have my assistant start looking into the paperwork."

Nora laughed through her tears. "Thank you, Lizzie."

Lizzie came forward to rest a hand on Nora's shoulder. "I want you to have your own choices, Nora. To make your own decisions and have your own freedom. I think at this point you've earned it, don't you?"

Nora looked at Eli. Your family is perhaps the greatest in the whole kingdom.

Eli's expression softened. They set the bar pretty high.

She laughed. You're included in that, you know.

Lizzie's attention darted between Eli and Nora. "Is that the ability?"

Nora cleared her throat and slid her glasses back on. "Yes. It's some kind of telepathy. It only works on Eli though." When she'd been in her room, trapped for days, she'd tried reaching out to anyone – Tessa, her teachers at school, even Lizzie. Eli had been the only one to hear her. "I think if I'm really tired, it doesn't work either. I'm still figuring it out."

Eli squeezed Nora's hand. "We have time to test it."

Lizzie clapped once, then rubbed her hands together. "Well, if that's settled, I have some guests in the parlor right now who really want to meet you, Nora."

"Me?" Nora asked Eli.

Eli grinned. "Our afternoon meeting, remember?"

Ah.

Jackson cleared his throat. "Nora, a moment before you go."

"I'll wait for you in the hall," Eli told her. Nora nodded.

As Eli and Lizzie filled out, Nora stood in front of Jackson's desk.

Jackson handed over a small set of papers. "I would never pretend to know the situation or what led up to your father's decision, however, I felt it important that you see these."

Nora carefully took the papers and flipped through them. Her heart clenched in her chest. They were emails – more than the ones she'd already found – from her father.

Mal, if you could see what my daughter is working on right now. You'd lose your mind.

She turned to the next one.

Hank, I showed Nora the piece last night. I needed an outside opinion. She had an idea that I cannot believe we hadn't thought of.

And then the next.

I promise you, my daughter will be one of the greatest songwriters Sarias has ever seen. She's more than I could ever hope for. Kind, caring, and has a will of steel.

Her tears burned as they trailed over the skin of her cheeks. It hurts me sometimes to know her mother will never see the work she does. She's got raw talent, Mal. It is astounding what she can do with an idea and a few notes. I'm proud and humbled to see the greatness that is the future of Dreame. Nora will redefine the song industry. Just you wait.

The sob that escaped her took all her breath with it. She sucked in air, the ground feeling shaky under her as she read through the snippets of emails Jackson had given her.

She'd been enough. She'd been more than enough the entire time. She just hadn't been able to see it.

Maybe it had been a low point. A week moment for her father. Maybe things had built and built and it'd been too much. She could never know for sure. But here, in these emails—some of them dated only months before her father's death—she knew one thing: she had been enough. Her father just hadn't been strong mentally.

"Your father was very proud of you," Jackson said quietly. "It's important that you know that, and remember. If nothing else, know that he loved you."

Nora sniffed and wiped at her nose. She clutched the papers to her chest like they were gold. "Thank you, Jackson."

The side of Jackson's mouth kicked up. "I'm rooting for you, kid."