[Meredith].
"Listen to me," I said, slow and. "You belong here. Anyone who says otherwise is wrong."
She searched my face as if trying to decide whether to believe me.
Draven spoke from beside us, his voice low and controlled. "You are my daughter. No one gets to question that."
Xamira nodded, but the fear didn't leave her eyes. So I did the only thing I could think of.
I picked up her fork, cut a small piece of pancake, dipped it lightly in honey, and held it out to her.
"Eat," I said gently. "You will feel better after."
She hesitated for a second then opened her mouth and took the bite.
I stayed like that, feeding her slowly, keeping my arm around her shoulders, murmuring little things—how good the food tasted, how she could tell me more about her knitting later, how we could go see the garden after breakfast.
Gradually, her breathing slowed.
Dennis watched from across the table, his expression was unreadable And I think it was because he had so many things on his mind.
