They lay there a while longer, neither quite ready to return to the world of strategy and planning and empire-building. But eventually, duty called. They dressed, Evander moving with his usual efficiency, but Catalina noticed something different. He stood a little straighter. Moved a little less like he was trying to disappear.
"What?" he asked, catching her watching him.
"You look different."
"How?"
"Less like a shadow. More like a man." She crossed to him, straightened his collar. "I like it."
His hand came up to cover hers. "I'm still going to work in shadows. It's what I do best."
"I know. But now you'll come back to the light." She kissed him. "You'll come back to me."
"Always." The word was a vow. "I'll always come back to you."
They returned to Wrenmouth Manor to find the ot
