>>Third Person POV
Hael knelt in front of Amber, arms half-outstretched, ready to take Elira—until he felt a firm tug at his coat.
He looked down.
Zola's tiny fingers were clenched tightly into the fabric of his coat, her eyes wide with protest. She didn't cry—no tears, no scream. Just a long, betrayed look that made Hael freeze in his place.
Then, slowly, Zola turned her head and looked at her mother.
Amber exhaled, caught between amusement and sympathy. "Hael," she said softly, "just hold Elira for a second. I'll handle her."
He hesitated.
"She's not going to let me take Elira," he muttered. "Not without declaring war."
"Hael," Amber said gently, already shifting her weight forward. "Trust me."
With a quiet sigh, Hael carefully reached out and took Elira from Amber's arms. The moment the soft, chubby baby settled against his chest, she snuggled in with the kind of blind trust that made him freeze again—this time from guilt.
