Something warm and tight unfurled low in Dani’s chest. Relief, sharp enough to hurt.
Aurelia hopped up before Dani could stand and marched straight to him.
“You scared me,” she announced, jabbing a finger at his bruised stomach like she was scolding a misbehaving puppy.
Arthur blinked, startled. “I—”
“Don’t do that again.”
A corner of his mouth lifted. “I’ll…try not to.”
Aurelia crossed her arms, then, apparently deciding that wasn’t sufficient punishment, wrapped them tightly around his waist. Arthur froze, then slowly, gently, folded his arms around her shoulders.
Dani looked away, swallowing down something messy. Too many feelings.
Arthur released Aurelia only when she declared, “Okay. You may sit now,” and returned to Dani’s side.
He obeyed, lowering himself onto the step with a faint wince.
For a moment, they didn’t speak.
Not because there wasn’t anything to say, but because the words hanging between them were too large.
Dani broke the silence first, “How do you feel?”
“I’ve been better,” he murmured, wincing as he adjusted.
She huffed something like a laugh. “Understatement.”
“Shifting’s never been that violent,” he added more quietly. “I guess my new form takes more from the body. More than I realized.”
She studied him.
His hands trembled faintly where they rested between his knees. He was paler than usual. His scent carried a faint metallic edge beneath it.
Power still settling.
“You saved us,” she said softly. “All of us.”
Arthur didn’t reply. He stared at the snow.
“You fought beside me.”
“Of course I did.”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “Notof course. You could have run. You could have hidden. You didn’t. You stood with me.”
Her throat tightened. She tried to swallow it back. Failed.
Aurelia nudged her elbow. Dani blinked down at her daughter’s expectant look.
“Are you going to hug him, too?” Aurelia demanded.
“Auri,” Dani hissed.
Arthur’s lips twitched.
“I’m—” Dani exhaled sharply. “I’m not hugging him on the clinic steps.”
