Daphne tilted her face up to Alaric, her voice soft and coaxing. "Ric…"
He glanced down.
"I want to play with my niece. Ben's been staring at me all evening."
Alaric's gaze flicked across the hall to where little Ben sat on Emma's lap. He was indeed staring.
Alaric let out a long breath.
Then, finally, his arm loosened.
"Come back to me soon," he muttered under his breath, though his lips ghosted the edge of her hair in a kiss before he released her fully.
Daphne's smile bloomed.
She squeezed his hand once, then slipped free, hurrying toward her family.
Alaric's eyes followed her the whole way, unblinking, as though even across the glittering ballroom he would not...could not...stop guarding what was his.
"Auntie!" little Ben cried, wriggling out of his mother's lap.
Daphne bent down, catching him in her arms as he flung himself at her.
She kissed his cheek with a laugh, spinning him once before setting him down again.
