Chapter 70

Saffron’s fear.

Saffron’s POV

The low murmur of voices in the kitchen died down when the door creaked open. Tobias and Kieran stepped in, the faint scent of night air clinging to their clothes. Their eyes went straight to us.

Tobias crossed the room in those calm, sure strides of his, and before I could even think, his hand was already on the back of my chair, the warmth of him settling beside me. Kieran mirrored the move, standing next to Elara.

“Thank you all, for keeping her company,” Kieran said, his voice softer than I was used to hearing. He looked at me, then at Mira and Astrid, nodding in quiet gratitude. Mira and Astrid nodded back, and I smiled faintly. “Anytime.”

Then Kieran turned to me, and before I could brace for it, his arms were around me in that solid, brotherly, protective way. My forehead pressed against his shoulder, and for a moment, I felt small again, like I was still that girl who used to run to him when things went wrong