The morning klaxon brought Beauty out of sleep with a start. For a second he looked around the room, the fog of sleep shrouding his brain before movement next to him burned it out in a heartbeat.
He looked down to find Nat nestled against his chest, clad only in one of his shirts—the one she’d fallen asleep in last night before he’d headed out to speak to Rishnakt. She’d looked so comfortable when he got back, and he hadn’t been able to bear the thought of sleeping on the uncomfortable couch in the sitting area. Besides, he was supposed to be protecting her. He couldn’t well do that from over on the other side of the room. Could he? No, it would be far easier to protect her if he was in the bed with her. That way he would be aware of everything, any little movement or noise she made.
Fro
