Valentina looked back at Fauna who was smiling and nodding behind her.
Her confusion showed on her face.

'Valentina.' Semi pointed 'She's your wife.'

'So you're not married to Fauna?' Valentina asked.

'Yes. And no.' He replied to both women.
'What made you think I was married to Fauna.'

'I have nothing to do with this Your Lordship.' Fauna quickly said when Nicholae looked at her next.

'Let's go inside. This is not the place to talk.' Osei reminded them of where they stood.

'Fauna take Valentina with you.'
But she wanted to hear all of it. The explanation and everything.

'I have a room prepared for you. It's your old one.'
Valentina studied the beautiful pregnant woman who had hugged her as though they were friends.

The four males walked ahead of them disappearing into another room. Semi decided to stay with them because she couldn't quite wrap her head around being able to touch Valentina all the time without the chill that accompanied it.

'Do you remember me? I'm Semi.'

Valentina recalled the name from Niko's story.
'Niko told me about you. You were the one that found me, my friend.'

Semi nodded her eyes tested up seeing her friend with amnesia.
'Fauna tell me we can fix this. Can we get her memories back?' Semi's question was a silent plea to the other witch.

'I'm a step ahead Semi.'
She opened the pouch around her waist and removed a vial from it.

'It just needs a little more work. I got exhausted and needed to rest for a bit.'

'The spell is draining?' Semi asked.

'A little.' Fauna modestly replied.
'But even if I get it done, she said she wouldn't take it.' Fauna told Semi.

'Why?' Semi asked Valentina who was lost in her whole world of thought.
Fauna replied, 'she doesn't want to remember... everything.'

'No. I do!' Valentina shot up from the of the bed where she'd been sitting thinking about Nicholae's confessing.
He'd introduced her as his wife that meant they were married which meant her forgotten memories were of him and happy moments together. Why wouldn't she want to remember her past now when she'd just found every reason to?

Fauna looked at her in surprise.
Semi looked spaced out for a little bit as she focused on what the men downstairs were talking about.

'Nicholae is giving them the short and sweet version of the entire story.' Semi told them.
Then she grabbed Valentina's forearms and said.
'Once you get your memory back you should tell us all about it. I love a good story.'
She looked at Fauna who looked surprised.

'Yes. Us Fauna as in the two of us in this room.'

Semi turned her head to the door.
'And it seems you're going along with Nicholae on his trip outside the Valley.'
Valentina noticed Semi's eyes lose the spark of joy that had just been there.
Fauna nodded.
'You should get going then, Nicholae plans to leave immediately.'

Fauna excused herself and left the two alone.

Semi gathered both of Valentina's hands and sighed heavily as though the weight of the world had just been placed on her shoulders.

'I'm happy that you're alive again Val. But if I could be selfish for a moment, I wish you were a spirit again so I wouldn't have to share the burden of my secret alone.'

Valentina felt a certain inexplicable softened towards Semi. She wanted to tell her everything would be alright, but what good would that do when she wasn't so sure what 'everything' was.
This burden that Semi carries must be very heavy, because in a split second it had dashed away all of her joys.

Valentina recognized the look on Semi's face. It was a replica of an expression she'd seen on Nicholae's face a number of times.

Will getting her memories also give her that expression? She was sure it would buy it was a necessary sacrifice.

'Nicholae is coming.' Semi the left the room meeting Nicholae at the door.

Valentina straightened herself and fixed her hair.
Her heart fluttered excessively when he smiled her way.

'I know I shocked you with the news of being my wife.' He sat beside her and took her hands in his.

'I was a little surprised. I wouldn't call it a shock. I knew you were married.'

Nicholae tilted his head a little at that.

'I thought you were married. To Fauna.'

Nicholae moved away a little.
'What the... how did you get such a notion.'
She saw his mind made the jump so she stopped him before she got her friend into trouble.

'Fauna didn't say anything wrong. She only said you and Niko were her family and I took it literally because I was jealous of her closeness to you and her always calling or texting you when I couldn't.'

Nicholae grinned at how cute she was being.

'I told you about the trip I'm making to the other side. When I get back, I'll tell Niko about everything.'

Valentina smiled restraining herself from doing a little dance. She was Nicholae's wife, now she wouldn't feel guilty about wanting to do married couple things.

'By the time you return, I'll have recovered my memories.'

Nicholae's smile dimmed a little.
'So you've changed your mind? That's good.'

So why didn't he look as ecstatic as she felt.
'What's wrong?'

'Don't mind me. And Listen Val,' he paused,
'It's good that you want to remember everything. And in remembering everything you might be angry at me, maybe wouldn't want to talk to me anymore, but that's okay. Just remember that I'll always be ready to talk and fix things.'

Why would she be angry at Nicholae! It could be over something really silly or serious.
He kissed her furrowed brows. 'Did I make you worry? I'm sorry.'

'No.' She shook her head.
'No I'm fine.' She leaned into him and savored the feel of his arms around her.

'How long would you be gone?'

'It shouldn't take more than a day.'

Nicholae saw that she still wore the choker he had put around her neck.
'Do you like it?' She nodded.
'It's beautiful. I don't remember how I got it though.'

'I placed it on your neck.' He told her.
'Wear It always and know that I love you.'

Valentina shut her eyes in anticipation for the slow kiss Nicholae would give her. And he delivered.
He held one side of her face and caressed her hand.

'I have to get going now Val. I need to speak to Cayden.'

She grabbed onto his hand and stood with him.
'I'll come see you off.

They walked down the stairs hand in hand. And fortunately, Cayden wasn't far.

'Cayden.' Nicholae called walking up to him.
'I want you to come along with me.'

Cayden folded his arms.
'Why?'

'Fauna and I could use your help. And this is also for Osei, so I want someone on his team to come along with us.'

'You're doing a lot for this alliance blood sucker.'

Valentina made a face at Cayden. She really wanted to stomp on his feet for calling Nicholae that, like he was a leech or something.

'Because it means a lot. And I'll appreciate it if you said yes.' Nicholae waited for Cayden's reply.

'Fine. Fine. You'll need someone to watch your ass and make sure you don't mess up.'

'Exactly.' Nicholae responded good-naturedly.

The three went on foot to the portal gate.
Cayden carries Fauna on his back for the trip and her mortified expression made Semi and Valentina have to hold in their laughter until she was far from earshot.

Osei chuckled along with Valentina and his mate and then reprimanded them for being mean.

'I'm not the one to blame honey. It was Niko who made the joke.'
The kid was still unapologetically laughing with Rex.
'Man, we should have taken a picture.' He said in regret.

'I just haven't seen her look like that before it was new.' Valentina said in support.

'Fauna and I got the brew going.' Semi told her.

She'd take these moments to think about taking the potion by the time it was finished her mind would be made up.

Or so she hoped. Four hours could be enough time to make a life altering decision.