Chapter 251: Wary Hearts, Bound Souls

Talia Somehow, his features seemed unfamiliar. They weren't quite like mine, nor were they exactly like his father's. His eyes were strangely slitted, and his skin was slightly darker, nearly as dark as Valerie's but not quite as dark as his father's. He squared his tiny fists, raising them above his head as he wriggled around. He opened his little mouth and let out a soft cry that somehow broke my heart to hear. I held him close, listening to his soft sounds as I guided him to my breast, where he began to feed. "Can I touch you?" Valerie's voice, gentler than usual, broke through my focus. I looked up to find myself staring straight into eyes similar to mine. Valerie blinked once, twice, her face covered in a smile. Her fascination was different this time—bright and gentle, yet full of a cautious curiosity. I adjusted slightly to give her a better view of her brother as he latched on, feeding with eager persistence. "I promise I'll be quiet," she said, reaching out to touch him. H