32
Bard
Jori wrenched his arm out of Bard’s grasp. As soon as he did, he patted Bard’s hand absently, murmuring, “I’m sorry, darling. I’m not… I won’t be able to sleep.”
The past few days, only getting snatches of sleep, made Bard want to crawl into bed immediately, but he nodded. His news had shaken everyone. “At least Haved’s alive, yeah?” They stood in front of Jori’s bedroom in the mayor’s residence but they made no move to enter.
Jori gazed sidelong at Bard, a vulnerable expression in his stormy gray eyes. “You didn’t hear anything about…?”
Bard’s throat tightened. Atty. “No. I’m… I’m sorry.”
Jori tossed his wavy hair as though shaking off the thought. “I knew that. I knew that,” he said quickly, breathlessly.
“It’s okay,” Bard said, bringing his voice low. It really was. If Ba
