Kael ran a hand slowly across his face, like someone trying to wake from a particularly unpleasant dream.
"Haaah…" he sighed again, now more deeply. "Always like this. A quiet day lasts exactly five minutes."
Hela watched the gesture with genuine interest, the polite smile never leaving her lips.
"I'm glad to see your sense of humor survived the coma," she commented. "Some lose it. Others lose their minds. You seem to have kept both… for now."
"I'm still assessing," Kael replied, raising his eyes to her. "Especially the mind part."
Amelia stirred immediately.
She straightened up, releasing Kael's arm just enough to look her aunt directly in the eye. The temperature in the room dropped a little more, subtly, controlled.
"Aunt," she said, her voice firm. "You're not going to kill him."
Hela finally shifted her gaze from Kael to Amelia.
"Ah?" "And where does that come from?" she murmured, curious.
"Familia's gaze didn't waver.
"Both."
