Chapter: 21

"Oh, but it's okay to go around flaunting your rekindled relationship with Celeste in front of Daniel?" I didn't know why I was so pissed. It wasn't like Lucian had actually slept over, or I'd done anything wrong. But that was the thing—either way, it was not Kieran's business. Not anymore.

"You're a lot of things, Kieran, but I didn't realize you were a hypocrite."

His eyebrows furrowed so deeply, they almost merged into one. "Excuse me?"

I pointed to the door. "There! You're excused."

Kieran let out an incredulous scoff. "I don't know what has gotten into you lately, but this isn't you, Seraphina."

I let out a sharp bark of laughter. "And how am I?" I asked. "How am I, Kieran? Because I can assure you, you don't fucking know me. You never did. In fact, I think this is the longest fucking conversation we've ever had."

Kieran took a step forward. "I—" "Mom? Dad?"

Kieran and I turned to see Daniel at the foot of the stairs, rubbing his eyes.

"Baby!" I gasped, sidestepping Kieran to go to him.

His curls were sticking around every which way, and I gently ran a hand through them. "Did we wake you?"

He shook his head. "Your phone alarm, for school."

I glanced at the clock—seven a.m.

"Right."

Daniel looked over my shoulder and gave Kieran a toothy grin. "Hi, Dad."

I stiffened slightly when Kieran stepped toward us, suddenly smiling brightly. "Morning, Champ."

He waved a book I hadn't noticed in his hand earlier. "You forgot this in my office last time you did homework. Figured you needed it for school."

Daniel reached out and took it. "Thanks, Dad." Then he sniffed once and turned to me, his eyes widening in delight. "Are you making pancakes?"

I nodded.

Daniel bounced on the balls of his feet. "Can Dad come to breakfast?" He turned to Kieran. "Dad, can you come to breakfast?"

Absolutely fucking not. "Danny, I'm sure your father—" "Would love to," Kieran said.

Our eyes met over Daniel's head, and something crackled in the air between us, volatile and precarious. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I suddenly didn't have an appetite.

SERAPHINA'S POV The coldness wasn't unfamiliar.

But there was an underlying tension that was new-tight, uncomfortable.

Still, I plastered a smile on my face when Daniel asked me to pass the syrup and kept it on when Kieran asked me to pass the butter. I clamped my mouth shut as father and son conversed animatedly.