Her cheeks flushed a dusky pink. Of course he’d had to tease her in front of the guard. “I haven’t been afraid of thunderstorms in years,” Alina protested. And, alright, perhaps that had just been since he had left the last time but it had been quite some time. Not that she liked them but she didn’t cower in fear anymore.
“I’m not the child you left here, General.” Those words, at least, were said gently. She had grown up while he wasn’t looking. He had been a father-figure to her and so many. Now they were adults and ready to fight for their country and their people.