Ellie POV
The courtyard smelled like warm stone and grass.
Sunlight filtered through the high branches overhead, dappling the flagstones in soft gold. I sat cross-legged on a thick blanket, August balanced between my knees while Ian crawled determinedly toward a wooden stacking toy Rae had placed just out of reach.
“Careful,” Rae murmured, laughing softly as Ian tipped forward, caught himself, and then immediately tried again.
I smiled, though the expression felt a little fragile.
This was what normal was supposed to look like.
No alarms. No raised voices. No guards pacing openly along the walls. Just fresh air, laughter, and two boys discovering the world one clumsy movement at a time.
I clapped quietly when Ian finally reached the toy, earning a triumphant squ
