Time passed slowly for Ylfa during the first few days of Darius' absence. She passed the hours playing with Lupa and Blizzard or studying the flashcards of the alphabet that Syrus purchased for her in London. "I'm working on commissioning a tutor for you from one of the other packs, but this is a good place to start," Syrus said, handing them to her one day as they sat together over tea in her tent. He let his fingers linger over the delicate skin on the back of her hand.
Ylfa smiled shyly at him, then slowly dropped her eyes to examine the tidy pack of cards with colorful illustrations of apples, balls, and zebras. Something had changed between them in Darius' absence. It was as if the old Syrus, the one she had swam with and kissed on the shore, had returned. He stood closer to her, the
