Toby, breaking away from where Eloise stood and running straight toward the truck. His dark eyes were wide with a mix of fear and relief, his tiny sneakers squeaking against the polished concrete.
I immediately dropped down onto one knee, opening my arms as he collided into me. I wrapped my good arm tightly around his small frame, burying my face into his hair as the cold, heavy tension in my chest finally began to thaw.
"Hey, buddy," I whispered, squeezing him close before pulling back slightly to look at his face. I reached up, gently wiping a streak of dust from his forehead, and offered him a warm, weary smile. "Did you keep an eye on things while we were gone? Did you protect the castle for me?"
Toby nodded solemnly, his lower lip trembling just a bit as he gripped the front of my
