“I thought you left. What happened?”
“Nothing.” I take the edge of the blanket and tug it up, covering her exposed shoulder.
“You promised there won’t be any lies between us, demon. Only secrets.”
It amazes me sometimes, how well she knows me, while not actually knowing a single thing about me at all. “The trip I’m taking. It’ll be longer than I expected.”
She bites her lower lip. I wait for her to ask me why, but she just keeps gazing at me and nods.
“How long will you be gone?”
“Ten days. Maybe a bit more.”
Another nod. “Are you leaving right away?”
“In a few hours.”
She reaches out and strokes my cheek. “Then, stay here tonight.”
“Cub . . .”
“Please.”
I shut my eyes for a moment, arguing with myself that I should leave. I lose. Again.
“All right.”
Nera’s palm tenderly glid
