"Better now?" Seraphina asked, smiling brightly.
"Mhm, very much," Kaelus admitted, resting his chin on the top of her head.
The failure in the catacombs still burned, the mystery of the monster still gnawed at him, but sitting here, anchoring himself to the warmth of his daughter, the crushing despair of his failure receded.
The monster had escaped, but Seraphina was safe.
That was the only victory that truly mattered.
Ten minutes later, the heavy oak doors opened.
Seraphina strutted out of the study, carrying the empty porcelain plate.
She held her head high, a look of smugness plastered across her small face.
She looked like a victorious general returning from a successful conquest.
Sir Lucas, Sir Boris, and Sir Gallahan were waiting in the corridor.
"The hedgehog is tamed," Seraphina announced, handing the empty plate to Gallahan with the air of a queen bestowing a favor upon a peasant. "He is reading a book now. You may enter safely!"
