Page 156 of Seeking Shadows

Pietro sighs, clearly reconsidering all his life choices.

Meanwhile, Edo remains on his father’s lap, watching everything with that serious look that’s too much for a baby his age. He makes no effort to go to Seth, just follows the scene with an analytical look, as if he’s silently judging the social interactions in front of him.

Zane, who had been watching from afar, finally comes closer and looks at Edo.

“You look like you’re having fun.”

Edo blinks slowly, as if considering whether the interaction is worth the effort.

“He’s crunching the data and deciding which side to support,” Laura says from the couch, absently flipping through her book. “Probably calculating which of you will be most useful in the future.”

“Smart like uncle!” Seth declares, pointing at Edo, who just stares at him without reacting.

“Like mother,” I correct, and Pietro lets out a weak smile.

Pietro looks at his son and pats him lightly on the back.

“He knows that if he wants to survive in this house, he better not get attached to any of you.”

“You say that, but your daughter has already chosen me,” Seth taunts, still holding Eleonora.

Pietro narrows his eyes.

“She doesn’t know how to speak yet. As soon as she does, I’ll teach her how to curse you.”

Seth laughs and kisses Eleonora’s cheek again.

“Too late, Pietro. The babydoll is mine now.”

Pietro looks at Seth with a deadly expression, making Seth’s smile widen.

Zane just gives me a noncommittal look and goes back to his drawing. I glance at what he’s drawing and blush with realization. It’s my smile. He’s drawing my smile.

“Give me my daughter.”

“No.”

Pietro takes a deep breath, probably counting to ten in his head, before turning to Seth again.

“Laura, take my daughter from him before I kill your brother on his birthday.”

“She’s gonna cry. She loves him,” Laura says, looking at Pietro in amusement. “Just look at her.”

Eleonora is really comfortable in Seth’s arms. It’s weird because everyone sees my brother as scary. But Eleonora looks at him like he’s the cutest unicorn she’s ever seen.

Seth smiles even wider. He’s smiling more.

“Tell your daddy you wanna be with me, babydoll,” Seth instructs, and Eleonora nods, her cheeks forming the cutest smile.

And this seems to melt Pietro, because he gives up on taking his daughter away by force.

“It’s cute to see these alphas being controlled by a little girl without even realizing it.”

“My daughter knows the power she has,” Laura winks. And I look back at Zane, who now looks at me with a smile. I take a lock of his hair.

“Indeed.”

"Thanks for the party idea, Zane, that was so thoughtful of you," Laura says to Zane, and I freeze, my eyes widening.

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