Keifer's POV
I ended the call and slid my phone back into my pocket, my mind still half stuck on numbers, meetings, and things I didn't want to think about right now. As I turned back toward the living room, I was already preparing myself for noise—Cien had been unusually quiet, which in my experience meant disaster.
I wasn't wrong.
The first thing I saw was Kerien and Cien nearly nose to nose, both visibly irritated.
The second thing I saw—
was Jay.
Kerien had one arm around her waist, not rough, not aggressive, just… protective. The kind of hold you don't even realize you're doing until someone tries to take it away. Jay looked flustered, half annoyed, half embarrassed, but she hadn't pushed him away.
Cien, on the other hand, looked like he was seconds away from starting World War Three.
"That is my sister," he was saying, pointing dramatically.
Kerien replied back just as flatly, "And she's sitting just fine."
I stopped walking.
Something in my chest tightened—not in anger, not jealousy—but in surprise.
Kerien didn't cling. He didn't trust easily. He didn't need people.
And yet there he was.
My attention tunneled completely on that scene, so much so that I didn't notice someone else until—
Thud.
A shoulder bumped straight into mine.
I blinked and turned.
Keigen.
He was standing there, frozen, eyes fixed on the exact same thing I'd been staring at. His mouth was slightly open, like his brain hadn't caught up yet.
We both looked at each other.
Then back at Jay and Kerien.
Then back at each other again.
I lowered my voice. "Are you seeing this… or am I finally hallucinating?"
Keigen swallowed. "I… don't know."
His tone changed then. Dropped. Became heavy in a way only I could recognize.
"Maybe," he said slowly, "he feels… Mom."
That hit me harder than anything else that day.
I looked back at Kerien. The way his grip wasn't demanding, just grounding. The way Jay's hand rested lightly on his shoulder, instinctive, gentle.
I felt something twist in my chest.
Before I could say anything, I saw it.
A tear.
It slipped down Keigen's cheek, silent, almost angry that it existed at all. He didn't wipe it away. He didn't move.
I stepped toward him, opening my mouth to say his name—
But Jay moved faster.
She noticed everything. She always did.
She stood up, gently eased herself out of Kerien's arms, and walked straight to Keigen. No questions. No hesitation. She wrapped her arms around him like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Keigen stiffened for half a second.
Then he broke.
He leaned down, forehead pressing against her shoulder, his hands curling into her back like he was afraid she might disappear if he let go.
Kerien stood up instantly, confused, then understanding—and joined them, one hand on Jay's shoulder, the other lightly gripping Keigen's arm.
Three of them.
Breathing together.
Holding on.
I stood there, rooted to the floor, my vision blurring before I even realized why.
And because chaos never misses its cue—
"WAIT," Cien suddenly shouted. "WHY IS EVERYONE HUGGING WITHOUT ME?"
He rushed forward and shoved himself into the group hug, nearly knocking all of them off balance.
"This is unfair," he complained. "I was emotionally invested first."
Jay laughed—soft, real, the kind of laugh that comes after too much pain. Keigen let out something between a breath and a sob. Kerien snorted despite himself.
And before I could stop thinking—
I stepped in too.
I didn't say anything. Didn't need to. I just rested my hand on Keigen's back, the other on Jay's shoulder, pulling them in just a little closer.
For a moment—
no titles mattered.
No past.
No blood.
No scars.
Just warmth.
Just people holding on because letting go felt scarier.
It felt like family.
And that scared me more than any enemy ever could.