Lila’s POV
I climbed into Tobi’s lap, prying the drink from his hand and setting it firmly on the table. His arms, tense at first, softened as I raked my fingers through his hair. He closed his eyes and sighed, the tight bands of worry around him beginning to loosen. The mate bond between us, so muted at a distance, pulsed heavily now — a live wire connecting my heart to his. Tobi always felt everything so deeply. It was easy for him to spin into panic.
His hands found their familiar place around my waist, gripping a little too tightly.
"Hey," I whispered, leaning my forehead against his. "It’s okay. Nothing happened to me."
"No," Tobi said quietly, almost to himself, "but it could have. And where was I? Inside, listening to fools drone on about Christmas trees."
He snatched up the gl
