Of course fate just had to poke perfection.
A tiny scuttling sound cut through the stillness, like little feet trying not to be loud but failing miserably. I blinked, and both of us turned our heads.
There she was.
Naial.
Half-asleep and all kinds of adorable, rubbing one eye with a fist, the other hand still holding onto her ragged blanket like it was a royal cape. Her hair looked like a bird's nest that had lost its way, and her eyes were squinty from the dark.
Mother's lips tugged into that knowing smile. "Naial," she murmured, soft and sing-songy. "Shouldn't you be asleep? It's the middle of the night."
Naial blinked up at her like we were the ones breaking the rules, not her. She frowned—sleepy and pouty and way too cute. "That's my line," she muttered, all raspy and sassy like only a half-conscious kid could be.
I giggled. Couldn't help it. She was like a grumpy kitten with a crown. I slipped from Mother's hold and stood, watching as Naial toddled across the room like her legs were still negotiating whether to move or not. Her blanket dragged behind her like she was royalty who hadn't gotten the memo about bedtime.
"Mommy," she whined—this long, drawn-out sound that melted straight into your soul. "I want a hug too."
I swear, my heart did a backflip.
Mother's smile turned into this radiant glow, the kind that could make flowers bloom out of stone. "Come here, my little sun," she called, arms wide open.
And just like that, Naial perked up. She waddled the rest of the way and practically dove into our mother's embrace, her blanket puddling at her feet like it had given up on keeping up.
Mother wrapped one arm around her, the other pulling me back in, and just like that—we were all there. Together. Her little world. I tucked into her left side, Naial in her right, and her love stretched across us like a sky.
I let out a sigh—barely a breath. "This will never get old."
Mother chuckled, low and warm, like thunder wrapped in velvet. She squeezed us both a little tighter, her voice soaked in everything I could never put into words.
"It won't," she whispered. "It never will."
For a long moment, the world was still.
Just the sound of the wind brushing through the leaves outside, the breeze sneaking in like a whisper—cool, kind, and full of moonlight. I nestled deeper into Mother's warmth, Naial curled at our side, and I swear, if perfection had a sound, it would be this silence. This peace. This pause. Like the universe itself had stopped just for us, just for now.
Then—
Knock. Knock.
My body froze.
No one knocked this late.No one ever did.
Mother's soft smile vanished like a candle snuffed out. In its place... that look. The one that made my stomach twist into knots. Eyes narrowed, jaw tight. That wasn't fear—it was focus. Dangerous, deadly focus.
"Mother?" My voice cracked. "W-What's wrong?"
Naial whimpered, curling into me, her blanket slipping slightly from her arms. I wrapped both of mine around her as tightly as I could, even though my hands were already trembling. "It's okay, I got you," I whispered, but I wasn't sure if I was saying it to her or myself.
Mother raised a finger—shhh—and mouthed a word. "Quiet."
Her hand slid, slow and steady, toward the blade strapped at her hip.
I swallowed the panic creeping up my throat as the knock came again. This time louder. Heavier. Like whoever was out there didn't believe in patience.
I held Naial even tighter. Her breathing was quick, sharp, and scared. Mine wasn't much better.
Mother let us go, every move like a wolf creeping through tall grass. She approached the door with careful steps, hand gripping the hilt of her dagger, the other hovering over the knob.
Silence.
And then...
"Anyone in there?"
A man's voice.
And not just any voice. That voice.Familiar. Teasing. Warm in a weird way. Like sunshine wrapped in bad timing.
"…Uncle Ren?" I blinked, my fear dissolving so fast it left me lightheaded. I loosened my arms around Naial, already knowing she was rolling her eyes before I even looked.
Mother, though? She froze. Her fingers curled tighter on the knob like she was still expecting a ghost.
Then, under her breath, barely a mutter but sharp enough for me to catch it—
"That useless fucking dumbass…"
I snorted. Couldn't help it.
With a long, dramatic sigh that only someone like Mother could make look graceful, she finally unlocked the door. The click echoed like thunder in the room. Then—creaaaaaak—she swung it open.
There he was.
Big as a boulder, broad as a tree, standing like a mountain that had just casually decided to drop by for tea.
Uncle Reynard.
His head tilted slightly, and that familiar chuckle bubbled out of him, rich and rumbly like a slow-moving avalanche that meant no harm.
Mother looked up at him—yes, up, and she's not even short—and crossed her arms with the most unimpressed expression in history.
"So," he said, voice all cheeky mischief, "are we just going to stare at each other all night, Lady Amara? Or will you finally let me in before my toes fall off?"
Mother blinked slowly, and then tapped a finger to her chin with the most exaggerated thinking pose ever. "Hmmm... I don't know, Reynard. Maybe I should leave you to freeze outside for knocking on my door like a drunken bear."
Naial and I both facepalmed in sync.
They always did this.
"Uncle Reynard!!!" Naial and I shouted in unison the second Mom stepped aside—and before I could think, we crashed straight into him like a pair of comets.
He staggered slightly but laughed, lifting us both off the ground like we weighed nothing. "Girls! How've you been?" His voice rumbled like distant thunder, deep and warm.
"Fine, Uncle Ren!" Naial practically yelled right into his ear, which was hilarious considering she'd been dozing off just minutes ago.
He finally let us down, and I watched him turn to Mother, who was staring at him like she was about to pounce—but not the fun way. The glare of a hawk locked on its next meal.
Uncle Ren chuckled, bowing slightly in that mock-gentleman way of his. "A good evening to you should suffice, Lady Amara."
Mother rolled her eyes, but there was a flicker of amusement in them. "Well, you basically welcomed yourself into my home, so… yeah, it should suffice," she muttered before breaking into an actual smile. The kind she didn't give easily. "Nice to see you, old friend."
"Likewise," Ren said, grinning as his massive frame took up most of the doorway. For someone in his thirties, he didn't look that old—but with those muscles and that beastly build, you'd think he wrestled bears for breakfast.
He was the only bulk shifter in the village, with more skill and heart than most. A literal gentle giant.
Ren crouched down to meet my gaze, and my heart jumped a little from the attention. "So, how's my little warrior? Still training every morning like you promised?"
I lit up like the lanterns on festival night. "Yes! I always do! And every time I train, I feel stronger—like really strong, like I could take on anything!" I blurted it all out so fast I wasn't even sure if Ren or Mother caught half of what I said.
Ren just laughed. "Well, don't worry, little cub. When you get older, you can start training with me."
My eyes went wide—like, really wide. "REALLY?!" I gasped, practically squealing.
And right on cue, Naial's jealousy kicked in. She folded her arms, pouting in that dramatic way only little sisters can. "Oh, so just 'cause big sis beat up some bandits, now she gets your attention? What about me, huh??" Her voice was full of mischief and mock-betrayal.
But before I could say anything, there was a blur—movement I totally missed—and then Naial was scooped up into a giant mom-hug, squealing at the top of her lungs.
"BIG SIS HELP! MOTHER IS EATING ME!!!" she shrieked as Mother spun her around like a little sunbeam caught in a storm.
I burst out laughing—me and Uncle Ren both, doubling over like we'd heard the best joke in the world.
"Ohhh, I thought you wanted affection, my little sun," Mother said sweetly, though I could hear the mischief dripping from her voice. She spun Naial even faster, and her squeals melted into laughter and little hiccups.
"That was richly earned, little grump," Uncle Ren chuckled, rubbing at his chest as if trying to catch his breath.
Mother gently lowered Naial to the ground, her arms still wrapped around her like a shield and a rope all at once. Naial was giggling too hard to stand straight.
Then came the banter, as it always did with them—Mother with that soft but dangerous smile, and Naial trying to act all grown even though she still sometimes slept with a night candle.
Uncle Ren, still chuckling, rose to his full height and looked over us like a bear admiring his cubs.
"Well now," he said with a low breath, eyes twinkling, "this is a sight to warm an old heart. Especially for you, Lady Amara. I never took you for one who knew how to smile."
Mother turned her head toward him slowly. Still smiling. Still holding me and Naial close to her sides. But it wasn't the warm kind of smile.
No, it was the one akin to a devil's grin.
My eyes widened just a little, and I winced.Oh no.
"Kaya, sweetling," she said in that soft, too-sweet tone, "would you mind covering your sister's eyes?"
She let us both go.
I didn't even argue.Just nodded, turned to Naial…