"His whole family is here; just try to ignore them," Andrew whispered, breaking her momentary pause and offering a reassuring squeeze of her hand. Ziana, still somewhat dazed, slowly nodded and tore her gaze away from Jackson. It was a strange mix of emotions seeing him there—healthy, well-dressed—compared to the haunting image from a few nights ago. His black-veined body and red-slit eyes flashed in her mind despite her efforts to avoid them, sending a shiver down her spine.
"Gosh, you look so beautiful," Lady Winter commented, holding Ziana's hands as they descended the stairs, making their way toward the gathered crowd.
"You too, Lady Winter," Ziana whispered as the elder reaper pulled her into a small hug. She exchanged a thumbs-up with Lia and Yael, who stood out among the humans and couldn't help but wonder how their brother might look if he decided to show up.
