"Yes! Deal! I promise!" Seraphina cheered, launching herself off the bed and sprinting toward him. She wrapped her arms around his waist in a massive hug. "You're the best Papa Duke in the whole world! I'm gonna get a dragon, and a glowing lantern, and maybe a sword, too!"
"You are absolutely not getting a real sword," Kaelus muttered, resting a heavy hand on her head, completely failing to suppress the fond smirk that pulled at his lips.
He looked out the window toward the darkening sky over Oakhaven.
He didn't know what the night held.
He didn't know if the 'void' would return.
But as he felt the small, energetic child hugging his waist, Duke Kaelus von Nacht knew one thing for certain.
If anything, human or otherwise, tried to ruin her Night Market trip, Oakhaven was going to need a lot more than a good Marquess to save it from the wrath of the North.
