The sitting room was warm and comfortable.
Azael settled onto the sofa beside Arista at the edge of the arrangement, and let himself quietly observe.
Lucas sat near his mother with the composed ease of someone who had spent his entire life in rooms like this one. Unhurried. Attentive.
Christina had dropped onto the sofa beside him but was already angled sideways, one leg tucked beneath her, treating the formal seating arrangement as a loose suggestion rather than an instruction.
Celestia's gaze moved briefly to one of the maids standing near the wall.
"Go. Bring coffee and tea. And arrange something suitable to eat for our guests."
The maid bowed and slipped out of the room without a sound.
"Guests?" Aeliana's voice was composed, her expression perfectly even. "I thought this place was still my home."
Anyone who didn't know her would have taken it at face value. Anyone who did could hear the thread of dry amusement underneath.
