Nadia emerged from the portal and immediately shook her head in dismay at the sight before her.
Fauna and Yelena were still at it.
Fauna would poke and prod, say something innocent-yet-provoking, and Yelena, who should have known better by now would fall for it every single time.
They were chasing each other around the garden like children, their earlier exhaustion forgotten in the heat of their perpetual sibling rivalry.
But the moment they saw Nadia step out with a floating constellation of sleeping children behind her, both of them stopped mid-stride.
Yelena's face flooded with relief.
She had separated the children specifically to protect them, knowing how Mika could be.
She had been afraid that he might decide the only way to be sure was to cut off the problem at its root.
But the children were alive. Asleep, yes, but alive and unharmed.
She hurried over to help.
Fauna's playful demeanor also vanished instantly.
