NEVA POV
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Ren settled against my chest with the specific unbothered comfort of a child who had never fully understood she was in danger, and for one suspended moment, holding her, feeling her small heartbeat against mine, I let myself believe the worst was over.
Ryke reached us seconds later, and the sound he made — something between a sob and a growl, entirely wordless — told me exactly how close he'd come to losing every ounce of composure during those two minutes of watching from the tree line.
He took Ren from my arms, and I watched him press his face into her hair, his whole body shaking, and Ren, patient as ever, patted his cheek with her small hand as though comforting him rather than the reverse.
"Papa sad," she observed.
"Papa's not sad," Ryke managed, his voice wrecked.
