~ Seraphina's POV ~
I didn’t know how long I sat in his arms.
The surrounding forest was still. It felt like even the wind dared not breathe too loudly, as if the earth itself waited for something to stir. Golden light filtered through the trees, slanting across blood-streaked leaves and the torn ground where the fight had taken place.
But I couldn’t look at any of it.
All I could do was hold Aris tighter to my chest. Her little heartbeat was the only thing that kept me from drifting into the storm inside me. I am not sure how and what just happened to me. The moment I saw Aris in danger, I couldn't stop myself.
The child… I don't know why, but I feel protective of her… like she belongs to me.
Alaric hadn’t said a word. He just knelt beside me, one hand braced on my back, the other
