SERAPHINA’S POV
Daniel sat a few feet away, half veiled in shadow, half revealed by the pale spill of moonlight. His shoulders were hunched, hands shoved awkwardly into the pockets of his pajama pants.
Of all the people I expected to find on the roof at nearly one in the morning, my ten-year-old son was very much not on that list.
“What are you doing up here?” I asked, my voice softer than the surprise that had sparked it.
Daniel winced, and I caught a flicker of embarrassment as his gaze slid away from mine.
“I, uh…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I couldn’t sleep.”
I raised a brow.
He immediately grimaced.
“Okay, that’s not true,” he admitted, glancing at me with anxious expectation, like he was bracing to be scolded. “I just…had to come up here.”
“Had to?” I echoed, moving closer to him.
I sat next to him and mirrored his position, hugging my knees.
“Care to elaborate?” I asked.
He shook his head, a lock of hair flopping over his eyes.
