**Wildfire—Audiomachine**
While Ember and Aunt Nyra remained cocooned on the bed, she couldn't help but think of that day's events. Particularly what Khaos said about the Queen.
Ember had promised herself that with regards to the Queen, she had no doubt but only respect. Yet she couldn't help her wandering thoughts and the gnawing in her mind because the truth was that she wanted to know the Queen the way a daughter truly would.
Which was why she found herself saying, "Were you and my mother always close?"
Aunt Nyra turned to her, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Serpentine was never close to anyone, Elara. But I suppose you can tag this almost nonexistent relationship of ours as closeness."
Ember swallowed. "Mother told me that she mostly lived with your family during her childhood. I assumed the both of you must have shared a close kinship."
