Caroline was rinsing her mug after breakfast one morning when Thorne suddenly came close to her and said, “Take time off with me."
She turned, frowning. “Time off?"
“A few days," he explained. “Starting tomorrow."
Caroline stared at him as if he'd asked her to quit. “I just got back to Valorith."
“I know."
“I can't vanish again," she stated the obvious. “Not after the accident. Not after I finally stopped people from treating me like a problem."
“You won't lose that in a few days." Thorne's voice stayed calm.
“You don't know that," Caroline shot back.
Thorne leaned against the counter, hands loose at his sides. He looked composed, as always. But up close, she saw it—the faint shadow under his eyes, the tightness at the corner of his mouth.
He was tired. She didn't acknowledge this
