Ex-Alpha's Regret: Siren's Comeback novel Chapter 148

POV: Seraphina

The news of Killian's imminent return filled me with an unfamiliar, fluttering anticipation. The week he had been gone, Aethelgard had felt… quieter. Larger. Emptier. The quiet admission I had made to myself on the balcony—that I missed him—had grown from a surprising whisper to a steady, undeniable hum in the back of my mind. I found myself looking forward to his return with an eagerness that was both thrilling and terrifying.

I stood on the main landing pad, the sea breeze warm and gentle, as his shuttle made its final approach. I had expected to see the same calm, confident man who had left. The man who had faced down my own demons with a quiet, unshakeable strength.

The man who disembarked was a stranger.

It was Killian, of course. His broad shoulders, his steady gait, the familiar way he carried himself. But his face was all wrong. The easy, relaxed confidence was gone, replaced by a deep, troubled furrow in his brow. His eyes, usually so clear and focused, were distant and clouded, as if he were looking at a horizon only he could see. When his gaze finally met mine, he offered a smile, but it was a tired, strained thing that didn't reach his eyes.

"Killian," I said, my own welcoming smile faltering. "Is everything alright? The crisis at your home..."

"It's been handled," he said, his voice flat, evasive. He looked past me, toward the command center. "We've lost a week. We should review the quarterly projections."

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