Then came a handful of candied nuts, and a small, corked flask of chilled milk.
She had hoarded an entire picnic's worth of high-calorie contraband throughout the day, smuggling it into her room while the knights were distracted by their own panic.
She turned back to Kaelus, holding the squished egg sandwich out to him.
"I knew you weren't eating either," Seraphina said softly, her dark eyes looking at him with pure, unconditional love. "Because you were too busy following me around looking like a sad wet dog. So I saved you a sandwich. We can share."
Kaelus von Nacht looked at the squished sandwich, then he looked at the tiny girl who had spent the entire day punishing him, yet had meticulously planned to ensure he didn't starve during his punishment.
The overwhelming perfection of his daughter struck him anew.
Kaelus didn't sit in a chair.
