The corridors were quiet when Alaric finally left the court.
The weight of the day pressed heavy on his shoulders, the missing Emperor, the escaped Architect, the uneasy royals. For once, he didn't go to his office.
He went home.
When he opened the door to their chamber, the first thing he saw was her.
Daphne sat by the window, the soft glow of the moon lighting her hair. Nathaniel was in her arms, feeding slowly. The room smelled faintly of milk and lavender.
Alaric stopped at the door, just watching. For a moment, everything outside that room, the lies, the danger, the fear, disappeared.
Here, there was only his wife and his son. When Nathaniel finally finished feeding, Daphne smiled faintly and set him gently in the cradle. She turned then, sensing the presence behind her.
"Ric," she said softly, surprised. "You're back."
He didn't answer. He just walked to her, and when he reached her, he wrapped his arms around her from behind.
