Fox’s eyes flutter open.“Mmm?”
“Sorry. Go back to sleep.”
“I’m not asleep,”he says, even as his eyes close.
I frown. “Wait! Is this the first time you’ve slept?”
“Ever?”he asks, still keeping his eyes shut
I roll my eyes.“No, not ever, just…we were up all night on my birthday, I know you didn’t sleep at the palace. Was there another night? I don’t know how long I was passed out for.”
“I passed out too, I got knocked out for a few hours.”
“That’s not sleep. Why didn’t you say anything?”
He shrugs, but doesn’t answer out loud.“I had more important things to worry about.”
He means me, I realize. He was worrying about me fortwo years. I can’t help but glow with pleasure, even as I scold him for not taking care of himself.“Don’t do that again.”
“Don’t run off on a suicide mission again.”
“Deal.”
I let him sleep, while I lay awake on his chest, marveling at the feeling of the new bond. Eventually his knot loosened and I could climb off him if I wanted to, but I didn't. I lie on his chest, occasionally dozing, until eventually, Fox’s eyes open again. He blinks at me, with something like confusion on his face.
“What?”I ask.
“Nothing. I just know where I am.”
I giggle.“Is that unusual?”
“Yeah. I never know where I am when I wake up, but this time I did.”
“That’s good, right?”
He grins.“Definitely.”
I beam.“We’ve been missing for a while, do you think the wolves will be alright without you?”
“Fuck ‘em, I don’t care.”
I pretend to scowl.“Liar.”
“Don’t look at me like that,”he says, grinning.“I care what happens to the wolves, but I know you want to go home.”
“Yeah, I do,”I admit.“I like it here, but we belong back in Vernallis. At least, I do. With Odessa and Kas gone half the year and Jett out on missions almost as often, I think my place is at the manor.”
“What about the adventures you wanted to go on?”
“I might pick them more carefully from now on,” I laugh.“I’d like to see Solistine, but perhaps I can go with more of a plan next time.”
“Are you going to go with Amora?”he asks without inflection.
“No, I don’t think so.”
He lets out a relieved sigh.“Good. I honestly didn’t want to have to walk all the way to Solistine.”
“Who said you were invited?”
