The room upstairs was smaller than Lyra expected, tucked beneath the slope of the roof, one narrow window overlooking the water and a bed that had clearly been made for one person rather than four. Ren had disappeared downstairs to keep watch with Callum. Adrian had claimed the couch without being asked. Ash had gone quiet somewhere near the kitchen, giving her space in the particular way he always seemed to know how.
Darian stood in the doorway without moving, as though he wasn't sure he had the right to come any closer.
"You can come in," Lyra said. "I'm not going to bite. Apparently that's not even the dangerous part of me."
His mouth twitched, not quite a smile, and he stepped inside, closing the door softly behind him. The window let in gray morning light, and in it, exhaustion had
