His face fell. “Just for a little while,” he said, and attempted a conspiratorial smile, the way he used to grin when he was coaxing her away from homework. “You don’t have to stay long.”
Soren spoke up. “Let her sleep, Luc. She was probably in the hospital longer than we were fighting.”
Luc ignored him. “Breakfast,” he said, setting his jaw stubbornly. “At least breakfast. You’re never in the mess. Go wash up. We’ll wait.”
“No. I really can’t,” she said. “I need to sleep. Maybe next time, all right?”
Her voice wobbled.
His face fell. “All right, if you really don’t want to.” He stepped back and forced a smile. “I’m holding you to that, though. Next time.”
Helena’s normally tidy room lookedas though a tornado had blown through. Lila had returned in full force, which meant there was a
