Aria
By the time we reached the hospital entrance, the crisis had calmed a little. Magnus was stable again, which basically meant “still alive but don’t relax.”
The doctors shooed us away, saying he needed rest, and honestly, I think Luca needed the breather more than Magnus did.
On the walk back to the car, Luca brushed his fingers against mine—not holding my hand, just that light graze that said he needed reassurance but didn’t quite know how to ask.
“Aria,” he murmured, “don’t mention anything about the real diagnosis when we see him tomorrow. He doesn’t want anyone panicking.”
“Okay,” I said. “I can pretend.”
“No—” he paused, looking directly at me, “you’re the one person he doesn’t want worrying. So act like you know nothing. And… bring the kids sometimes. He light
