Ivy pov

“Come on, Rick. Breakfast’s ready,” I called softly across the clearing.

Rick looked up from where he was arranging small stones along the edge of the stream. He smiled, leaving the tiny structures behind and running toward us. Lucien was already standing by the hearth, hands in his pockets, watching him with a rare softness in his expression.

I paused for a moment, just watching them. The way Rick ran without worry, the way Lucien’s shoulders relaxed as he laughed quietly at ...