He has my hands. Long fingers. Square palms.
Keira's mouth. Her button chin.
I still can't believe she gave him my name.
Even now, standing in the doorway of his nursery, the weight of it hasn't faded. She carried my child in secret, brought him into the world alone, and when it came time to name him…she chose me.
A piece of us she could keep without anyone knowing.
I don't deserve that kind of devotion. But I'm going to earn it.
I lean against the doorframe, keeping my distance. The nanny isn't here—probably on her evening break—and the room is quiet except for the soft clatter of blocks against hardwood.
"That's a good foundation."
Hale's head snaps up, and he stares at me with those wide gray eyes.
My eyes.
"You're one of the guards." Cautious but curious. Already assessing. I love that about him.
"I am."
"You're not supposed to be up here. Is my mommy okay?"
Smart kid. His first instinct is to check on her.
"She's fine. I'm just doing rounds. Checking in on things."
He considers this with the logic of a five-year-old. "Are you going to get in trouble?"
"Only if you tell someone."
A tiny smile tugs at his mouth. "I won't."
He returns to his blocks, but he's not ignoring me anymore. He's including me.
Glancing up every few seconds to see if I'm still watching, adjusting his structure like he wants my approval.
"It's a castle," he announces. "For keeping bad guys out."
"Looks sturdy."
"It needs to be." His hands pause on a block. "My…some castles aren't strong enough. That's what Father says."
I steady myself, breathing through the pain before it can reach my face.
"That's not true. The best castles aren't the ones with the thickest walls." I crouch, bringing myself closer to his level. "They're the ones with the smartest builders."
Hale looks up at me. "I'm smart. Mommy says so."
"I know you are."
The smile that breaks across his face is blinding. Full and unguarded and so purely him that it nearly knocks me off my feet.
I can't help but soak him in.
This tiny human who carries my name and my blood and has no idea I exist.
