Page 14 of Mourning Wings (Whitmore Legacy #1)

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RONNIE

T he moment I stepped into the room; a strange feeling hit me. It’s like I’ve stayed here, maybe even slept in this bed. I can’t explain it, but it’s familiar. I can feel it in my soul, like a memory trying to resurface, just out of reach.

I sit on the edge of the bed, my fingers brushing over the soft sheets. A shiver runs down my spine. “ I’ve been here before,” I mutter, more to myself than to Valeria , but she catches it.

“ What do you mean?” Valeria asks, waiting for me to explain something I don’t even understand myself.

“ I don’t know.” I shake my head, my hands gripping the edge of the mattress. “ It feels like I’ve been in this room before, slept in this bed. But that doesn’t make any sense, does it?” My voice cracks at the end, frustration bubbling up. Nothing about this should feel familiar, yet it does.

Valeria doesn’t respond right away. Instead , she stretches out next to me, staring up at the ceiling. She lifts her arms above her head, the long line of her body relaxed, and I try to focus, to shake the feeling creeping up my spine. But then, I see it: a tattoo, small script along her ribcage, just under her shirt.

Mors tua, vita mea.

My breath catches. The world tilts on its axis.

The sentence burns into my memory from a time I didn’t even know I’d forgotten.

I stare at it, my mouth suddenly dry. My heart starts racing, pounding so loud, I can hear it in my ears. “ Val ,” I say, my voice barely a whisper, “when did you get that tattoo?”

Valeria glances down at me, confused. “ I’ve had it for years. Why ?”

I can’t speak, can’t move. Every single forgotten memory hits me at once, a rush of images, feelings—everything. My vision blurs as the memories flood in, an unstoppable tidal wave.

Valeria sits up, her eyes wide now. “ Verónica , what’s going on? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Did you hear something?”

I can’t answer. I’m shaking, my hands trembling as I grip the bed harder. My throat feels tight like it’s closing. Everything starts falling into place, and I’m terrified.