Clara reached the lodge's entrance before the guards could fully react, her desperate momentum carrying her past their startled formation toward the small, terrified figure huddled just inside the doorway.
"Leo." She dropped to her knees, gathering her son into her arms with a fierceness that spoke to every terrible moment of fear she had endured during their frantic ride through the darkened forest. He clung to her instantly, small fists gripping her gown, his entire body trembling despite his obvious effort to remain brave.
"Mama, I was so scared," Leo whispered against her shoulder, his voice thick with tears he had clearly been fighting to hold back. "The men said I had to come with them, that my father wanted to see me."
"You are safe now," Clara murmured, pressing kisses against h
