Donovan leaned against the rough bark of the tree, arms crossed, his eyes scanning the playground as laughter filled the air. Jenevanae was in the midst of a group of children, her giggles ringing out like music. He couldn’t help but smile, but that warmth was quickly eclipsed by the irritation simmering beneath the surface.

He had been far too dismissive of Sireos earlier. He couldn’t shake the feeling that she had been hurt when he’d brushed her off. Her eyes had flickered with disappointment, a look he found himself surprisingly bothered by, even though he knew it was pointless to dwell on it. She was not the priority here; Jenevanae was.