He pulled away from her slowly, watching her turn away from him and press her head to the window. She said nothing and he felt the bond seal shut again. He didn't fight it, didn't try to force it back open. She needed space to think, and he needed to get her back home so that they could sort this whole thing out.
In the base of his mind, deep past the silver-gold of the bond-tie, something started laughing. It was oily and shrill and triumphant in a way that sent a horrible shiver up his spine.
She'd fallen asleep on the drive, which shouldn't have surprised him. She'd been moving nonstop for three days, and he could feel just how tired and worn thin she was. He didn't wake her when they pulled into the driveway of his place. Instead, he just lifted her gently and took her inside, tuc
