Olive watches Solma settle by the fire with the Whisperers. Cobra holds her hand. Krait wanders over and clambers onto her lap and she folds an arm around him. Olive smiles. She knew Solma had it in her. She watches the girl she loves—and oh, she does still love her—as the tension goes out of her shoulders, as the touch and the smiles of others calm her. She’s been so alone, even surrounded by all these people. Olive’s heart both hurts and sings to see her shedding that loneliness. She wants to go to her, to kiss that dark-haired head and hold her closer than close.
But she can’t, can she? Not now. Maybe not ever again. She sighs, watching King and Habu scurry over. The boys come to sit round the fire. Krait complains loudly of a headache. Habu clutches his tummy and groans. Roseann sits
