The dining room of the Draven estate shimmered with late afternoon light. Long windows spilled sunshine over polished mahogany and gilded frames, a place where discipline and love had always tangled under Kael's watch. Lea sat near the end of the table, her siblings clustered close, while Hugo occupied the seat opposite.
Kael had joined them quietly, his presence filling the room more than his words ever could. He was a man of few expressions, but every glance he cast toward Hugo was sharp enough to cut glass.
Mireya and Maxen noticed it, of course. At five years old, they noticed more than adults often gave them credit for.
Mireya swung her little legs beneath her chair, sneaking looks at Hugo between bites of fruit. Maxen leaned against Lea's arm, whispering things under his breath that made her scold him softly.
Kael's voice broke the quiet. "Eat properly."
