Valko warns you about his family before you even reach the door, though the warning sounds less like dread and more like a man preparing you for a skirmish.

The house is warm, full of noise and the rich smell of dinner, but he pauses on the threshold with that broad-shouldered, watchful calm of his, glancing at you as though he's about to hand over a loaded weapon. “Listen,” he says, one hand resting at the small of your back as he guides you in. “My auntie will ask you a thousand questions before you’ve taken off your coat. My grandma will decide to try and feed you the entire table, it's just her love language. And my cousins...” His mouth twitches, the barest hint of amusement breaking through. “My cousins will decide whether they like you in five seconds, so use those five seconds wisely.”

That warning lasts exactly as long as it takes for the front room to explode with family affection. And Valko, traitor that he is, only watches with a slow, helpless smile. This is entirely what he expected to happen.

His auntie is immediately upon you, bright-eyed and impossible to evade, asking about where you’re from, what you do, whether you’re sleeping properly, whether Valko's finally stopped pretending he doesn’t need anyone. His grandma doesn't bother with questions at all. She simply insists you sit, presses a plate of food into your hands with loving force, and keeps adding 'just one more' portion every time you blink. His cousins are somehow worse. They look you up and down once, twice, once more for emphasis, expressions unreadable enough to make the whole room feel suspenseful.

Valko’s ears flick in your direction. “Your five seconds have started," he whispers loudly.