Dean did not leave Theodore at the window for long.
The child stood with one small palm pressed against the glass, black eyes fixed on the distant northern horizon where the restricted forest began far beyond the palace grounds. He was no longer upset about Otto's enormous stuffed dragon sitting abandoned behind them.
If anything, Theo had become unusually calm.
That concerned Dean more.
He crossed the room and lifted him.
"No."
Theo allowed himself to be moved without protest, wrapping one arm automatically around Dean's neck while continuing to look over his shoulder toward the forest.
"Papa, he is awake."
"I heard you."
"He wants me to find him."
Dean carried him toward the sofa.
"That is also something I heard, and the answer is still no."
Theo frowned thoughtfully rather than arguing.
"But I know where he is."
"You know approximately where he is."
"I can feel him."
That changed the room.
Arion had already moved closer, his attention completely on their son now.
