Elara's POV
Samuel smiled. "Good."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Because if you can't handle it—"
"Careful."
"I was going to offer some friendly advice."
"No, you weren't."
"I might've been."
Orion shook his head, but the corner of his mouth twitched.
This was how they were together. I'd caught glimpses of it over the years—the private language of two people who had been each other's worst influence and most dependable constant since childhood.
The threats were real.
So was the affection underneath them.
Mia appeared beside me.
"Mia, come say hello," I said gently. "And what do we say to Uncle Samuel?"
She looked up at him with the blunt, assessing stare children give adults they haven't quite figured out yet.
Apparently, he passed.
"Uncle Samuel, thank you for the Ferris w
