Eight Under His Gaze
"Yes… Love," Mia said softly.
Cassidy paused - just a flicker of doubt - before squaring her shoulders.
"Yes… husband," she replied, soft yet steady, refusing to let it tremble.
Some of the women looked at each other without words. Not criticism - simply noticing. What passed among them held weight, though spoken by no one.
For a second, Leon watched. Not how they looked. Not the shape of things. Something underneath caught his eye instead.
"You two understand something better than the others," he said.
His voice carried no weight of demand. Only what was real.
"Care."
"Compassion."
"Pain."
Heavier than orders, the words fell.
Closing her hand just a bit, Cassidy felt her nails meet skin. Not scared - no - this was something she knew too well.
Mia looked down briefly, her face easing into a quiet kind of understanding.
Leon continued.
"You will oversee healing, welfare, and civil support."
