Eva wiggled deeper into the embrace, recognizing the scent of Caden.
His arms tightened and there was a slight jerk as he came to wakefulness.
"Sorry," Eva whispered.
He made a masculine sound as he stretched. "Don't be. Any time I wake up to a beautiful woman in my arms is a good day."
Eva turned so her front faced his. "Did you finish what you needed?"
Caden rumbled a sleepy sound Eva took as assent. He inched closer to her to press his forehead against hers, their breath mingling.
"I never got the chance to ask how you are." There was a hesitation in Caden's voice as if the subject scared him.
Eva understood what he really meant as she nuzzled her nose against his in silent support. The swarm still terrified her when she thought about it too long.
"We haven't had the time, have we?" Eva asked.
Caden brushed the hair from her forehead and kissed one eyelid. "I would have asked earlier, but I figured it was a subject you wouldn't want raised with an audience present."
"You're right about that." Eva rubbed her cheek against his chest as she drew absent lines across his abdomen.
"What happened?" he prodded when she didn't speak.
Eva tucked in tighter, burying her face against him.
He pulled her up, touching her chin to lift her face. "Talk to me. I can't protect you if I don't know what I'm up against."
Eva's smile was pained. "I don't think knowing will help you."
He caressed her chin, his gaze searching. "Let me try anyway."
Eva looked away.
Caden's grip tightened as determination filled his face. "Maybe I can't fight this battle for you, but I can be beside you for the duration."
She knew if he could, he'd take her place in a minute, but that's not how life worked.
Sometimes you were handed burdens no one could pick up for you. Crosses you were forced to bear for better or worse.
As much as he might wish otherwise, there was no version of events where he could fix this for her.
That wasn't what this conversation was about.
He was asking to be allowed to share in the worry. To trust he would stand beside her even when things got hard.
It was the promise all couples made to each other. That they'd share in the good times and the bad.
Eva took a deep breath and nodded, relenting. "You're right."
In more ways than he realized. As terrifying as the experience had been, Eva had learned many things that might help Caden and the Trateri in the coming days.
It was her responsibility to prepare them as well as she could.
At her capitulation, Caden's body relaxed.
"I don't know at what point I went down," Eva started. "Just that there was a voice, and it seemed to be calling me."
Caden listened intently, not interrupting.
