I keep my hand over her eyes even though she’s sound asleep now. Something about the gesture feels protective, like I’m shielding what’s mine from nightmares, from the memories that haunt her when she’s awake.
The fire crackles softly, and Luna appears from wherever she’s been hunting, springing gracefully onto my shoulder. She settles there with a satisfied purr, apparently deciding this arrangement meets with her approval.
“At least one of you accepts where you belong,” I tell the cat quietly.
Luna’s purring grows louder, and she begins grooming my hair with her rough tongue. The sensation is oddly soothing, domestic in a way I’ve never experienced.
This is what I want. Astra sleeping in my lap, Luna perched on my shoulder, both of them exactly where they should be. It’s simple and p
