(... continued)
The door clicked shut as little Freya padded out, bouncing yet without her usual charm…her voice fading into the hall… Kieran could even catch faint whimpers. But he didn't intervene. He knew she was strong and she would overcome her own grief for her siblings. That's why he gave her that job.
He straightened slowly, his chest still heaving, eyes shadowed. His hand lingered at his side as if he would almost reach for Autumn again.
The silence that fell was suffocating.
Too tight.Too loud.
Then it was Autumn who moved.
Without warning, she lunged straight at him.
Fury blazed in her eyes.
"Talk in the morning, Kieran?" Her voice sliced...dripped with sudden,unexplained loathe and sarcasm. "Were you too ashamed to tell her I am her mother?"
Her chest rose and fell violently, each breath rattling through clenched teeth.
Her hands planted themselves on her hips, but they trembled…half with rage, half with something more raw.
