Colin rubbed his eyes, staring in confusion at the two figures tangled together.
Nathaniel sprang up, hastily wrapping a towel around his waist.
"Just playing a game. Why are you up, Colin?"
Colin's lower lip trembled. "Mommy's not here... I'm scared."
It used to be Audrey who would tuck him in, placing a teddy bear by his pillow to guard against monsters.
But since Lily became his "mommy," the bedtime stories stopped, the teddy bear vanished, and now he missed his real mother.
Frowning, Nathaniel gathered Colin into his arms to return him to his room.
"Darling, let me take care of Colin. You must be tired," Lily interjected sweetly, scooping up the child. The moment the room door clicked shut, her gentle mask slipped. She viciously pinched the soft flesh of Colin's thigh.
The sudd
