She crouched slightly before brushing a few loose curls away from Takoda's forehead and gently cupping her cheek. "I know he will."
Even so, the quiet uneasiness lingering deep within her heart refused to disappear.
Sera, who had been observing the exchange in thoughtful silence, smiled gently before breaking the moment. "Come now," she said, her voice warm with quiet amusement. "There's little point in standing here staring at an empty sky."
Sarath nodded in agreement. "I was just about to take everyone to the orchard behind the western gardens."
Dakota turned toward her curiously. "An orchard?"
A smile spread across Sarath's face as she nodded. "Our family has cultivated it for generations. Most visitors never have the chance to see it because it's tucked away beyond the formal gardens, but it's always been one of my favorite places in the entire estate."
Takoda's disappointment disappeared almost instantly. "Does it have lots of fruit?"
