"You left, and the house got so dark, big brother... Not even my light could defeat the suffocating darkness."
Kaiden swallowed.
This conversation was no longer about jealousy.
It was about abandonment.
Loneliness.
Trauma disguised as obsession.
And he knew… He had to handle it carefully.
Kaiden didn't answer her with words.
He stepped forward, wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her into a tight embrace.
Alice let out a startled, squeaky little "Eep!" as her face was smushed against his chest. Her hands clutched at his shirt, instincts warring between melting, hiding, and exploding into delighted fireworks.
It was a tender moment, far too tender for someone being so incredibly cruelly disciplined.
One could argue, quite reasonably, that Kaiden had been far too lenient with Alice up until now.
He had scolded her.
He had lectured her.
He had warned her.
He had even once threatened separation.
