Ember Frost's POV

I stuck out my tongue sheepishly, suddenly feeling a little guilty.

"Snacks help me think, Mother," I said with a grin. "Everything feels less exhausting when I have something to nibble on."

She looked at me with a mix of amusement and resignation.

"You're all grown up," she said, "so why does it seem like you're trying to make up for everything you didn't get to eat as a child?"

Shaking her head, she turned to Vivian.

"Could you bring her a few more biscuits?"

Vivian ...