Tobi's POV
Mother was curled in an armchair near the fire, knees tucked up, eyes puffy and red-rimmed. Father sat at her feet, trying to soothe her. When I stepped into the room, she closed her eyes, and a single tear slipped down her cheek.
“Where the bloody hell have you been?” Father growled, rising to his feet.
“I had errands to run,” I said, brushing past him to kiss Mother’s forehead. “How are you today?”
“Lila cancelled our garden walk,” she whispered, not meeting my eyes. “She’s slipping away from me.”
“That doesn’t sound like her,” I said, surprised. Mother was one of the few people Lila genuinely liked.
“She said she wanted time with Oscar and his human mate,” Mother added, barely a whisper.
“She’s saying goodbye,” I said gently. “She has to make peace with her people befo
