SERAPHINA’S POV
Daniel’s laughter rang through the courtyard like sunlight, bright and warm, as he tore into another gift with unrestrained excitement.
For the first time since I stepped out of that suffocating corridor, my frantic heartbeat finally settled.
Not fully—there was still a tight coil of emotion lodged beneath my ribs—but at least I wasn’t seconds away from breaking in half.
If that conversation had happened before—years ago, when I still lived under the same roof as Kieran, but was lonelier than I’d ever been—I would’ve been too tired to argue. Too numb. Too used to swallowing every splinter he gave me with a brave smile.
Back then, his distance was predictable. His coldness was routine. Fighting was futile.
But now?
Now everything was different.
The
