Page 119 of Seeking Shadows

“It’s a necklace,” she explains. “If you need help, press the back, and I’ll know you’re in danger.”

I hold the pendant between my fingers.

“Only if you promise to help him first,” I negotiate.

“Mia,” she says, her tone a warning.

“Promise me, Laura.”

She lets out a sigh, running her hand over her face as if I were the greatest enigma she’d ever encountered.

“Okay! I’ll help him first.”

A warm relief spreads through my chest.

“I know there’s more…” my sister whispers, and my eyes widen. “I know abouther, Mia. You may think I only see logic here, but I won’t force your decision. It’s yours. Whether you stay there or not, whether you do what needs to be done or not—that’s your choice. I’d never take it away from you.”

“Then you won’t interfere?”

“Only if you ask me to. I want you to know that I’m prepared to step in whenever you’re ready to accept my help. But in the meantime, I respect your decision.”

“You should try to put that same thought into Seth.”

“He’s scared of losing the things that matter to him,” Laura explains. “It’s scary to have things to lose… trust me. When you grow up repressing who you are, pushing your feelings away, and internalizing them to the point they consume you when they resurface. Seth has things to lose now, and it makes him scared.”

“And you’re not scared?”

“I’m scared to death,” she admits, and for the first time, I see a real hint of emotion in my sister. “I don’t want to lose you when I know so little about who you are. I’ve never had much of a family outside of Cecilia. She’s all I’ve ever had, and now I have so many people I don’t want to lose. But I’d never make the mistake of making choices on your behalf. Seth doesn’t care about that, he acts impulsively, but I’m not him. I just ask that you consider that there are people who care about you and are afraid of losing you… me, among them.”

“You made cupcakes,” a deep voice interrupts, and I turn to see Pietro approaching.

Laura, distracted by me, smiles when she notices her husband. It's an almost innocent, sweet smile.

She loves him. It’s mesmerizing to watch how her shields fall when he’s around.

“They’re for me,” I warn, giving his hand a firm pat as he reaches for one.

He raises an eyebrow, recoiling as if I’ve committed a war crime.

“I didn’t even touch them.”

“If you want them you will have to earn them.”

Pietro stares at me for a second, then turns his gaze to Laura.

“You made cupcakes,” he repeats, as if needing confirmation.

“I did. I separated the ones you like in the kitchen, don’t provoke Mia—she bites.”

I smile and nod at Pietro with a sweet grin.

I like him. He seems like a good husband for Laura.

He blinks slowly. “Why?”

Laura lets out an exasperated sigh. “Because studies show that comfort food helps with emotional adaptation.”

Pietro doesn’t look surprised, but there’s an amused glint in his eye.

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