After Raya left the room with their son cradled tightly in her arms, Kaius stood there for a brief moment, his chest rising and falling with the weight of too many emotions crashing in waves beneath his ribs, still stunned by the truth he had only just begun to process.
The world hadn’t slowed down to give him time to adjust, it was moving fast, rushing ahead, dragging him along whether he was ready or not. And without thinking further, he followed her.
He caught up with her halfway down the hallway, where her steps were quick and filled with purpose, like she needed to stay in motion or else risk shattering.
“Do you need any help?” he asked, his voice low, cautious, a flicker of something softer cutting through the storm still raging beneath his skin.
She didn’t look at him as she r
