Lumi came to visit that evening.
She walked in quietly, holding Mrs. Thorn's hand, her golden eyes fixed on Dax in the bed. She'd changed clothes — someone had dressed her in a clean tunic, combed her hair. She looked like a doll someone else had arranged.
" Daddy."
"Hey, little star." Dax's voice was still weak. But he smiled. It reached his eyes.
"Mama says you got hurt."
"I did. But I'm getting better."
Lumi nodded. Then she walked to the bed. Climbed up onto the mattress. Curled against his side. She fit there perfectly, Sera noticed. Like a space had been carved for her, waiting.
"My eyes hurt earlier," Lumi said. "When I was scared."
"Your eyes always hurt when you're scared." Dax's hand moved to her hair. "That's your power responding to stress."
"I know." Lumi was quiet fo
