Sleepy Fox Hollow brimming and broken and somehow

mahler did not understand what had so amused phaedra, but an answering smile danced on his lips all the while. when his palebloom curled in on herself, petal-soft and introspective, mahler waited.
and when she spoke, full of the florid rush of anticipation, of honey-purple eyes riveted upon his face; waiting, waiting. mahler did not have the heart to force his pragmatism. "it is more than vorth it," he assured phaedra as straightly as he was able, seeking to hold the sun-shimmer of her own eyes.
your mother is more than worth it.
he did not want to send phaedra off into the world with some resentment toward love. it would make her always wary around the subject. mahler meant for her to be as joyous and ready for love as he could allow. he could not allow his fatherly sins to be visited upon her future.
he thought suddenly, and painfully, of stag.