"Teacher?" two small voices echoed together, soft and sleepy.
Alina looked up and saw Sable and Lucien standing in the hallway, both wearing the cutest nightwear she had ever seen. Lucien wore a tiny black shirt with matching pants, the collar slightly crooked from sleep, while Sable's blue pajama set had tiny white clouds printed across the chest. Their hair was messy from sleep, Sable's sticking up in soft little tufts and Lucien's falling over his forehead in gentle waves. They looked so sweet she almost forgot how scared she had been moments ago.
Dante placed a steady hand behind her, guiding her gently forward. His expression stayed calm, unreadable as always, but his voice carried a warm firmness when he spoke to his sons. "Your teacher was frightened," he said. "So she will stay with us for a few days."
Both boys gasped softly.
