The walk back to the houses should have been silent. It should have been the sort of return where everyone keeps their head down and pretends the darkness is not breathing on the back of their necks. But the moment we stepped out of the treeline, Felix slid in closer than he had been before.
He did not bother pretending he was checking on me. He put an arm firmly around my waist, steadying me like I was one step from collapse. Maybe I was. But it still hit my ribs funny.
Nathan noticed instantly.
His jaw flexed. His shoulders tightened. I felt the shift in him like lightning in the air.
“Felix,” Nathan said, voice clipped. “Let her walk.”
Felix ignored him completely. He pulled me closer, his hand splayed across my hip like he was daring Nathan to argue.
“She is shaking,” Felix said.
