Selphira was considerably more affected by what was happening than she'd anticipated would be the case.
She'd faced multiple crises. Situations where lives depended on her decisions and where failure resulted in catastrophe. She'd learned through many errors to maintain an appropriate emotional distance. Separation between personal feelings and tactical necessities permitting her to function effectively under pressure that would paralyze those less disciplined.
But today was different…
And the Ashenway matriarch realized with uncomfortable clarity that she cared about Victor and Sirius's inherited mission considerably more than she'd expected permitting herself to feel.
Victor was her grand-nephew technically. Family connection coming from marriages rather than blood… Perhaps little blood shared between them through some of those marriages.
Family nonetheless.
