Bastian
As I walked into the estate, the cool air of the evening brushed against my skin, but it did little to ease the tension coiled inside me. I had just dropped Kaida off after her checkup with Dr. Cooper and I had met with Kaelen at the airport, feeling a strange mix of satisfaction and irritation. Kaida was progressing well, and I liked being around her, but now there was something heavier to deal with.
As I stepped into the living room, I found my mother, Helena, waiting for me. Her face was a mask of cool elegance, but I could tell from the tight line of her mouth and the way her hands gripped the armrest that she wasn’t here for a casual chat.
“Bastian,” she greeted me, her voice clipped. “We need to talk.”
I sighed inwardly, already knowing where this conversation was heading
