The twin suns of Auralis dipped low, painting the sky-house's crystal walls with streaks of pink and gold.
Zara Veyron, now in her sixties but still tall and fierce at six feet, leaned back in her cushioned chair, her jet-black hair streaked with silver but still gleaming.
Her cat-like green eyes sparkled as she watched her teenage daughter, sprawled across a velvet couch, fiddling with a holographic tablet.
The girl had Kalia's fiery red curls and Zara's sharp gaze—a perfect mix of trouble and charm.
"You know, kid," Zara said, her voice warm but teasing, "you keep rolling your eyes like that, they'll get stuck. Then how will you stare down boys and girls at those fancy sky-parties?"
Her daughter groaned, tossing the tablet aside. "Mom, I'm not rolling my eyes. I'm just… bored. Tell me something interesting. Like, how did you and Mama meet? You never talk about it, and I know it's juicy."
Zara chuckled, a low, rich sound that echoed through the spacious room.
Her panther-like pet, its sapphire eyes glinting, curled up at her feet, purring like it knew the story was coming.
"Juicy, huh? Well, your mama, Kalia, that sly little redhead, nearly got us both killed with her schemes. But oh, she was worth every second of the chaos."
She leaned forward, her strong hands folding together, still calloused from years of gripping life by the throat.
"Picture this: a world where money was louder than words, where sky-houses floated above neon slums, and your old mom was the most feared girl in school." I looked over at my daughter.
"I was rich as sin, colder than ice, and had no time for love." I smiled softly
"Then comes your mama, all big hazel eyes and curves that made jaws drop, acting sweet as honey but sharp as a blade." I continued
"She'd climb onto my lap at parties, whisper things that'd make a statue blush, and I'd just sit there, pretending I wasn't hooked."
Her daughter giggled, sitting up. "Mama? Sweet? She's the one who taught me how to bribe my teachers!"
Zara grinned, her eyes softening. "Oh, Kalia was a snake in the grass, but a gorgeous one. We fought, we kissed, we broke each other's hearts."
"There were kidnappings, betrayals, even a few bodies. Don't look at me like that, kid. It was a wild time! But through it all, your mama was my fire."
"She burned me, sure, but she lit up my world. And somehow, we built this...…"
Zara gestured to the sky-house, to the pet, to her daughter, "a family stronger than any fortune."
She reached out, ruffling her daughter's curls. "So, you want the full story? Buckle up, because it's a long one, full of love, lies, and a whole lot of trouble. Ready?"
Her daughter nodded, eyes wide, and Zara began, her voice carrying the weight of a life well-lived and a love hard-won.
"Kid, I'm about to tell you how I met your mother."