Azhar smiled faintly, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. It was a parent's right to be protective about his children, and a father's privilege to be jealous of the attention showed his daughter from anyone besides family. He did elect to kneel next to his wife rather than remain standing. With his robes pooling around him he felt it would make this conversation less formal and more family. "You may have something there," he conceded, "but that isn't exactly a reason as to why you want to go out after dark. And yes, Kozu and Azah also need viable reasons to be outside at that late hour." This way Zuma couldn't complain that she was being singled out. Sun's light, Azhar was the Firelord and even he needed a good reason as to what he was doing traipsing outside at odd hours of the night. And he, Kozu, and Azah were more than capable of taking care of themselves in the event something happened. Zuma… she was so gentle and kind and innocent (when not behaving as a brat). He hoped that she would never lose those qualities and he fretted for the day she was truly tested. It was a part of growing up, he well knew, and he was selfish enough to want to delay the worser parts of maturing.
He hadn't missed Zahira's quick assessing look, either. That was all the answer he had needed as to how he had managed to wake up on his own and feeling considerably more refreshed than usual. It wasn't enough to make him feel completely rested but for now it would do.