[redith].
I chuckled softly and glanced back toward the path we had co from.
"I think we need to get back now," I told Draven. "The entire house should be awake by now. And we don’t want to miss breakfast with your father—especially since we missed dinner yesterday."
He nodded without argunt and turned, leading the way back toward the estate.
We entered through the back door. A few servants were already up and about, carrying linens and trays. They paused the mont they saw us and bowed deeply.
I offered a polite nod in return, still not entirely used to how instinctively everyone deferred.
Draven and I took the elevator up to our floor and freshened up together, the routine comfortable, unspoken. When we were done, I tied my hair back and glanced at him.
"I haven’t seen Xamira since we got back," I said. "I will go get her for breakfast."
He leaned down, kissed my forehead, and smiled. "Go ahead."
A few minutes later, I arrived at Xamira’s room and knocked twice, softly, before opening the door.
She had just finished putting on her shoes. And the mont she looked up and saw , her face lit up.
"My lady!" she cried, launching herself at with all the enthusiasm only a seven-year-old could muster. "I’ve missed you so much!"
I laughed and caught her easily, hugging her close. "I missed you too," I told her honestly.
Her nanny stepped out from the washroom a mont later and greeted with a respectful bow. I returned it with a smile before my gaze drifted around the room.
It was brighter and softer now. The toys were neatly arranged. A small desk by the window, books stacked in uneven piles. It finally felt like a child’s room.
Satisfied, I looked back down just as Xamira pulled away from my embrace.
She tilted her head, studying with unsettling seriousness. "My lady," she said slowly, "you’ve changed."
I blinked. "Changed?" I asked lightly. "How?"
She humd, clearly thinking hard. "I don’t know," she admitted. "But you feel... colder than before."
The words hit harder than I expected. For a heartbeat, my body reacted before my mind did—a faint chill crawling over my skin, the fine hairs along my arms lifting.
I froze.
’How...?’
From the mont Draven and I returned from visiting my grandma until this very mont, no servant had reacted strangely to the new mw.
No high-ranking wolf had so much as flinched around since we returned. And yet this human child had sensed sothing the mont she saw .
I forced myself to smile, steadying my voice. "Really? But my body temperature is perfect."
Xamira just smiled back at and shook her head, as if she knew better but wasn’t interested in arguing.
I took her small hand. "Co," I said gently. "Let’s go for breakfast."
She followed obediently, her steps light and unbothered. But my mind wasn’t.
I arrived at the dining hall with Xamira beside , her small hand wrapped in mine.
The mont we stepped in, she released my hand, straightened her little back, and curtsied neatly to everyone present.
"Good morning," she greeted, her voice clear and polite.
Then she imdiately ran off toward Draven. "Daddy!" she called, weaving between chairs until she reached him at the head table.
Draven’s face softened instantly. He bent slightly and smiled as Xamira hugged him tightly. He rested a hand on her head for a brief mont before she pulled back, clearly pleased with herself.
anwhile, Jeffery, Oscar, and Dennis had already risen to greet . I lifted my hand in a small gesture, signalling them to sit back down. They obeyed imdiately.
The servants bowed deeply, but I only glanced at them as I moved forward and took my seat beside Draven.
A servant pulled out a smaller chair, and Xamira ca to sit on my other side, swinging her legs slightly as she settled in.
I realized then just how hungry I was. I blad it on the early run and the short combat session Draven and I had earlier that morning.
A few monts later, Randall entered the hall, and everyone stood to greet him.
His expression was pleasant as he gestured for us to sit. But the mont his gaze landed on Xamira, the warmth drained from his face. His mouth tightened, though he said nothing as he took his seat.
Finally, food was served. The table filled quickly with a generous spread. I began serving myself as a servant assisted Xamira beside .
Just then, the piece of roasted potato Xamira had picked up with her fork slipped and fell onto the table.
Before the servant could react, I reached over and helped her pick it up.
Xamira looked at and smiled warmly, then she leaned closer and whispered, "Thank you, my lady."
I returned the smile and motioned for her to continue eating. But when I turned back to my own plate, my appetite dulled.
My thoughts drifted back to her earlier comnt. For a mont, I told myself I was overthinking it. Yet one thing refused to settle.
Xamira should not have been able to sense anything different about .
Humans were the least capable of noticing changes like that—especially changes I had hidden so carefully.
That thought lingered. And no matter how normal the rest of breakfast seed, it stayed with , quietly unsettling until the very end.
---
Breakfast soon concluded.
Randall was the first to leave the dining hall. And the mont he was gone, the tension at the table eased subtly.
Not long after, Xamira’s nanny appeared to take her away. Xamira resisted imdiately, her fingers curling around the edge of her chair as she turned to .
"My lady," she said, eyes bright, "will you co later and draw with ?"
I hesitated just a second, then smiled softly. "We will see about that."
She seed satisfied with the answer, even though it wasn’t a promise. Her nanny gently coaxed her up, thanked respectfully, and led her out.
Xamira looked back once and waved before disappearing down the hall.
A few monts later, Draven and I rose from the table and left the dining hall together.
The corridor outside was quieter. We walked side by side in silence for a short while. Then Draven spoke.
"Is sothing wrong?" he asked.
I glanced at him, surprised by the question. There was curiosity in my smile as I t his gaze, as if asking what had given away.
He continued calmly, "You were distracted during breakfast."
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