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~Seraphina's POV~
I clenched my fists where I stood.
How was I to act when her father committed a grave offence, and knowing the elders, they must have gotten wind of it?
They'd come for her no doubt and…
"Dad?"
Rhainnon stirred a little in her sleep, muttering a word that made my heart clench even more.
"Dad. Dad."
I step back further.
She didn't need to wake up and see the war I was losing behind my eyes. Didn't need to see how close I was to surrendering to something I can't afford to feel.
She needed stability, love and support right now, and deep down, guilt gnawed at my insides. I had prevented her from seeing him hours ago when I could have, and now…
I knew Rhiannon would hate me.
"She'll break us," Karl said quietly. "Or save us. There's no in-between."
I clenched my jaw.
"Whichever she does, I need to be here for her, but now, I need to figure out how to play the elders and not let her be branded a traitor.
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