SERAPHINA’S POV
The villa felt unusually bright when we returned, the sunlight spilling over the floors like molten gold.
I barely had time to process the warmth before Daniel’s sharp voice cut through the silence.
“Mom!” His tiny feet thundered down the hall, and he skidded to a halt in front of me, humming with excitement. He was still in his pajamas, his hair adorably sleep-rumpled.
But his bright smile dimmed as he took me in, and then his brows furrowed as his gaze dipped. “What happened? Are you hurt?”
I glanced down at my neatly bandaged ankle and felt a pang of embarrassment. I’d been here less than two days and had almost drowned and gotten bitten.
How was I supposed to keep my son safe if I couldn’t stay out of danger?
“It’s nothing, hon. Just a tiny scrape,” I said lightly, though the lingering sting from the snake bite throbbed faintly beneath the bandage.
Daniel’s dark eyes narrowed in suspicion. My son’s instincts were sharp, even at nine years old.
