Tobi’s POV
I woke to find Lila curled beside me, her breath warm against my shoulder, her legs tangled with mine beneath the sheets. The sight of her always managed to clear my mind, even if only briefly. I stroked a hand through her hair, watching her eyes blink open, slow and sleepy.
“Good morning,” she murmured, stretching.
“Good morning,” I echoed, kissing the tip of her nose. “Did you sleep well?”
“Like a log.” She yawned, blinking at the room, as if searching for something.
She opened her mouth to speak—then closed it again, lips tightening. That little tell again. She was keeping something from me. But she’d learned how to block the mate bond, how to shield her emotions. Clever girl. My clever little liar.
“I cleared my calendar today,” I offered as I climbed out of bed, “I kn
