She had not expected him to speak. Sera's chest tightened; she did not want to obey. But she could not flee this room so swiftly after appearing, and her father was still bed-bound — it was unlikely that he had been able to acquire a wand, at least not a working one. She was safe. She just did not feel as if she was.

She took several steps towards the bed, looking more graceful than she felt, until she was at the foot of her father's bed. "Would you like me to sit by your side?" she asked. Perhaps he would be too tired — but Sera knew that was too much to hope for. "You're looking better."

(She had not visited when he was comatose; so she had to assume he was looking better.)