The common room was alive with its usual chaos — mugs clinking, voices overlapping, the faint hum of music from someone’s phone. But for me, everything narrowed to the corner where Koda and Jace sat, their block tower leaning precariously like it was daring gravity to try them.
I crouched down, steadying my voice.
“Koda, sweetheart,” I said, brushing a curl from his forehead. “I need to tell you something important.”
His big brown eyes lifted, curious, trusting. Jace looked up too, protective as ever, his jaw tight like he already sensed this wasn’t good news.
“Ari’s going home tonight,” I continued softly. “She loves you very much, but she needs to be with her family. Just like you’re here with yours.”
Koda’s lip trembled. “But… Ari stay,” he whispered, the words broken but clear.
I
