Moonlight filtered through the windows of the study, casting an icy glow across the space.
The chill air pulsed with silence, except for the soft scribbling of pen on paper. Valentino paused, glancing at the wall clock.
Almost an hour.
He dropped the pen and gathered the pads of paper, then neatly arranged them on the side of the desk.
It could wait till morning.
If Nathan didn't get enough sleep because of him and Celyn came for the weekly check-up, he'd be in huge trouble.
Though, he was only fooling himself.
Something about the way the boy's eyes had narrowed with disappointment earlier crushed his chest.
And the urge to accept his request crept in, gnawing at him.
One hour.
Valentino had blurted, even when he knew it wouldn't be enough.
It was the string, he'd convinced
