A few days later—
"Grandma, I won't be home for a few days," Lucien said gently. "There's important work I need to attend to. I'll be taking Kieran with me, so Leia and Ronan will stay here with you. I hope… you'll try to bridge the gap between you and Ronan while I'm away."
Azalea's hands tightened faintly over the blanket on her lap. Her gaze dropped, weariness pulling at her features. "Ronan doesn't come near me. Even during those three days in the hospital, he never stayed by my side." Her voice faltered. "He's been hurt too many times because of me. I… I can't bring myself to call him over, let alone speak to him."
"Grandma, don't think like that," Lucien urged softly, crouching down so she would meet his eyes. "Ronan isn't used to love. He's protecting himself the only way he knows how. He probably believes keeping his distance is what's best for both of you right now. But you're the elder, you have to be the one to reach for him."
