Kaelen's POV
My mother's eyes shifted from me to Benedict, and I caught something there I hadn't expected. Recognition, yes, but also surprise mixed with what looked like genuine relief.
"When did you arrive?" she asked him.
The hardness in Benedict's face softened just enough to be noticeable. The tight line of his mouth relaxed, and his eyes warmed in a way I hadn't witnessed in years.
"The second I learned it wasn't the rot affecting you, I had to come," he said. "How could I stay away?"
My mother's smile bloomed across her face, transforming her from the fragile patient in the hospital bed back into the powerful Luna I remembered from my childhood.
"Don't run this time," she said, her voice quiet but carrying the weight of command. "Stay for a while. Please."
Benedict gave a single, slow nod. His jaw worked as if he was fighting to keep his emotions in check. "You have my word, Rowena. I'm not going anywhere."
