SERAPHINA’S POV
Corin, Maris, and Brett arrived within the hour.
In that time, I managed to take a shower and force down a cup of coffee and half a bagel.
Afterward, I felt less likely to collapse under my own weight and even managed to send Daniel off to training with a smile and a kiss.
Corin greeted me first. “Chin up,” he said gently, his sea-green and blue eyes threaded with quiet concern.
His hand came to my shoulder in a brief, steadying clasp. “We’ll get to the bottom of this, and then you need a makeover. Under-eye shadows are not your look.”
Despite everything, a faint breath of something almost like a laugh escaped me. Only Corin would greet emotional devastation with jokes.
Maris greeted me next, her expression soft but searching. She pulled me into a warm, reassuring hug.
"Despite the circumstances, it's good to see you again," she murmured.
Brett lingered a step behind her, shoulders drawn tight beneath his jacket, tension etched into the line of his posture.
