Zerah
I opened my eyes to soft light pouring in through the sheer curtains, the distant sound of birds chirping breaking through the morning silence. For a second, I forgot where I was. The room was too big, too polished. Then I heard the twins’ voices from across the suite, and everything came rushing back—Ryker’s mansion, the fight, Alice collapsing.
A few minutes later, I heard their sleepy chatter.
“Mommy?” Micah mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
“Time to get up, sweethearts,” I said, swinging my legs over the side of the bed.
I sat up slowly and rubbed my eyes.
--
“Mama!” Ryan called out. “Micah won’t let me wear the red socks!”
“They’re mine!” Micah argued from the other side.
I sighed and slipped out of bed. “Okay, okay, enough. You two are going to make me grow grey hairs before
