nally claimed Jolie. She slept d

tion of ornate stone carving slid silently to the side

soled boots making no sound. The air he brought from th

oss the room, illuminating a

h step deliberate and silent, a skill honed on ba

bed, looking down at the

n her up close, without a veil or

tling with some unseen trouble even in her dreams. Her face, pale in the moonlight, lo

membered from years ago, the one trailin

k on her nightstand. An apothecary's

d smooth the worry from her brow. He flexed his finger

sleep. A single word escaped h

the

at it struck a chord deep inside him. A reminder that

had entered the room began to thaw,

licker of connection,

emy or an ally, but he sensed she was

in the moonlight, until the distant chime of the

blanket had slipped, exposing one sl

he reached down and gently pulled t

her skin. The contact was electric, a jolt up

passage as silently as he had co

, he found Agnes waiting

gain a cold, impassive ma

le here. I don't want anyone fro

ficant shift from the simple command to

ed. "Especially Trist

"And Agnes. Not a wo

nd disappeared deeper into the network o

he unexpected warmth