"Ravyn, can I follow you to the academy?"
Seraphine's innocent voice trailed after him the moment he swung his backpack over one shoulder. She was barely six then, all wide bright blue eyes and cherubic features, her small face tilted up at him with such naked adoration that it should have softened his heart.
Instead, it only tightened something in his chest. "Sera, don't you have anything else to do?"
The words came out harsher than he'd intended, clipped and dismissive. He saw the instant they landed, her lower lip trembling, tears gathering in those bright blue eyes like storm clouds rolling in. He bit the inside of his cheek, the taste of copper flooding his mouth. "Fine. But you have to bring Daisy along."
The transformation in Seraphine was instantaneous. Her entire face lit up, the tears forgotten, and she bounced on her heels with barely contained excitement. "Thanks, Ravyn! You're the strongest. I love to watch you train."
༺❀༻
"Ravyn, Sera snatched my flower."
