Vladimir's expression, which had already been cold with suspicion, sharpened even further as he stared past Talon's shoulder toward Yu, and when he finally spoke again his voice dropped to a quieter register meant for Talon alone. It was not the ordinary softness of a child asking for comfort, but something more focused, more urgent, the kind of tone that made it impossible to mistake this for a passing whim or a momentary burst of childish clinginess.
"Papa… let go. I want to go to Mama."
Talon hesitated for only the briefest instant, and that hesitation had nothing to do with reluctance to obey. It came instead from the instinctive protectiveness that had settled into him almost too quickly, too deeply, as though his body had accepted fatherhood before his mind had fully caught up. Even so, he lowered Vladimir carefully to the ground, loosening his hold the moment the boy's boots touched the set floor, and Vladimir wasted no time at all before darting forward.
