Chapter 73: Burn Bright, Not Out
The morning light spilled gently into the solarium, bathing everything in soft warmth. Outside, dew still clung to the garden roses, and early birds chirped beneath the rustling leaves. Inside, however, the day had already begun with the quiet hum of routine.
Seraphina sat at her desk, auburn hair pulled half-up to keep her vision clear. Her long lashes fluttered as she scrawled equations in sharp graphite across a page. To her left, a charted schedule detailed her schoolwork, training, rest periods, and—marked with hearts and small, careful letters—Eva time.
The previous night's exhaustion still clung to her limbs like a second skin. Her pale red eyes bore shadows beneath them—not from nightmares, but from relentless discipline. Kickboxing. Sanda. Tactical defense. Swimming drills. It wasn't enough to simply protect Eva—she had to be worthy of standing between her and danger. She had to be enough.
A soft rustle behind her. A tiny yawn.
"Ina…"
Seraphina turned just as a warm weight pressed into her back. Eva, tousled from sleep, her eyes still cloudy with dreams, wrapped her arms around Seraphina's neck and leaned in.
"You're working again," Eva murmured.
Seraphina softened. "Just finishing some things, moonlight."
"You didn't rest properly," Eva muttered, climbing into her lap without permission—though she never needed it. Her dark hair, lit faintly brown in the sunlight, fell over her cheeks like ribbons.
Eva nuzzled the crook of Seraphina's neck. "You need to slow down. So you don't burn out."
Seraphina blinked, caught off guard. "That's very mature of you."
"I am mature," Eva said haughtily. "But not just for me. I mean… okay, maybe a little for me. But mostly because I need you."
Seraphina's breath hitched as Eva kissed her gently once. Then again. And again.
Seraphina inhaled. "If you kiss me one more time…"
Eva's eyes widened mischievously. "What happens?"
"…then I'll slow down," Seraphina whispered. "But I'll never slow down showing how much I love you. You're my moonlight. My anchor."
Eva grinned. "Good."
Seraphina kissed her softly, then tipped her head to leave a trail of kisses across Eva's cheeks, brow, eyelids, ears, and down to her jaw where her nightgown's collar bunched. Eva giggled, squirming.
"Ina! That tickles!"
"Good. That's what you get for bossing me around."
Eva tilted her head back, breathless with laughter. "You forgot my lips again."
Seraphina raised an eyebrow. "I just kissed your lips."
"Not enough," Eva said with a dramatic pout.
Seraphina smirked, pulled her closer, and kissed her lips again—gentle, soft, sure. Her hand cradled Eva's head, thumb brushing her cheek.
Afterward, Eva leaned her forehead against Seraphina's and whispered, "I love you, Ina."
Seraphina closed her eyes. "I love you more."
"What should we eat for lunch?"
"I was thinking we could paint outside today," Seraphina replied. "So maybe sandwiches. Lemon cakes. Fruit. Tea."
"With jam!" Eva added. "And milk. With a bendy straw."
"Of course," Seraphina said with a smile. "Anything for you."
*****
Later that day, in the sunroom, Evelyn sat at the table with Vivienne, sipping tea and going over documents. The warm afternoon light slanted across the polished floor.
Suddenly—
"Mama!" "Maman"
Eva bounded into the room, arms wide.
Evelyn turned, immediately alert. "Yes, my star?"
"Yue's working again today. Sooo busy. But maybe later…" Eva twirled once, her curls bouncing, "maybe she'll give me twenty kisses!"
Vivienne blinked, amused. "Twenty? That's quite a number."
Eva grinned. "Sometimes she forgets my lips, so she makes up for it." Mere—aunt Vivi
Vivienne blinked again. "Your lips?"
Eva nodded proudly, then skipped out of the room.
There was a pause.
Evelyn raised an eyebrow, lips twitching with amusement.
Vivienne coughed into her tea. "She meant her cheeks. Obviously."
"Mm," Evelyn said, very clearly not convinced. "Cheeks."
Vivienne laughed, despite herself. "It's sweet, Evelyn. Just an affectionate phase. She's very young."
"She's also extremely clingy. You were never that clingy."
Evelyn raised a brow. "No. I was worse."
"Oh?"
"I used to cry every time my nanny left the room. And then I cried every time you stopped looking at me."
Vivienne turned, amusement glittering in her eyes. "Still true?"
"I cry when you stop looking," Evelyn whispered playfully.
Vivienne flushed, swatted her lightly, and turned back to the window. "Focus, seductress."
"I am focused. On our daughter. And what she's growing into."
Vivienne's tone softened. "Eva loves Yue deeply. It's the way she looks at her—like Seraphina is her entire sky."
"She needs that," Evelyn murmured. "Someone steady. She's always been intense. I'm just glad it's Yue she's orbiting."
Vivienne nodded. "But we'll guide them. Protect what's sweet. Help them grow."
"And if anyone hurts Eva…"
Vivienne's gaze turned sharp. "Seraphina would never."
Evelyn smiled faintly. "I know. That's why I'm not worried."
*****
Back in Seraphina's room, Eva was curled once again in her lap, the two of them wrapped under a light quilt. Her schoolwork lay abandoned on the desk. A phone on the nightstand buzzed occasionally with training reminders.
But Seraphina ignored them.
This moment belonged to Eva.
Eva nestled against her, head over Seraphina's heart. "Don't work too hard, Ina."
"I have to be strong for you."
"I don't want you to be too strong if it means you're too tired to hold me."
Seraphina smiled faintly. "Then I'll balance it. I promise."
"Promise with a kiss."
They kissed—soft and slow, familiar.
"Again."
Another kiss.
They whispered for a while about silly things. If they were birds, what kind of birds they'd be. What flavor dreams would taste like. Whether flowers could understand when you talked to them.
And as the sunlight spilled gold through the windows, warming their quiet corner of the world, Seraphina knew:
To protect someone, strength mattered.
But so did softness.
And Eva had given her both.