Draven’s POV
"Alera, what is it?" I asked, my voice steady despite the sudden unease curling in my gut.
The little girl hesitated for only a second, her small fingers twisting into the fabric of her dress. Then, with a deep breath, she lifted her gaze to mine, her bright eyes filled with something that looked far too serious for a child her age.
"I feel like my mama is hiding something from you," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper, yet heavy with certainty.
My spine stiffened. The weight of her words settled over me like a cold shadow. Alera was just a child, but children often saw things adults overlooked. My mind raced, turning over every interaction, every glance, every unspoken moment between Zeraphine and me. Had I missed something? Had she been keeping secrets from me
