“Like he’s prepping for war,” I murmured. “Irene might be able to recognize the different magic. You just need to keep your head down until we can get to her.”
I watched Kiana yawn, her lashes fluttering as exhaustion weighed down her small frame. A quick glance at my watch told me it was still early in the evening, but she needed sleep. We all did. My voice was steady as I assigned watch shifts, sending everyone off until the room emptied.
The second the silence settled, she started peeling off her clothes, crawling into bed with slow, tired movements. I turned away quickly, giving her privacy. She’d told me Morven hadn’t touched her like that, and just an hour ago she’d been curled in my lap… but I wasn’t going to push.
“I need you.”
The words were so soft I almost thought I imagined
