I dry my hands slowly on a cloth.
“You’re welcome to stay,” I say.
“I had no intention of leaving.”
“I mean…”
I hesitate.
“In the bed.”
One eyebrow rises.
“And nothing happens?”
“Nothing happens,” I repeat firmly.
He studies me for a moment, clearly considering the offer. Then he nods once.
“As you wish.”
The candlelight shines softly as we settle beneath the blankets. The bed is not large, and when he lies beside me the warmth of his body fills the space almost immediately.
Then his arm slides carefully around my waist. The thread responds with a gentle warmth that spreads through my chest like the rhythmic glow of the hearth.
“You are comfortable?” he asks quietly.
“Yes.”
I shift slightly, resting my head against his shoulder. The position feels surprisingly natural. Right.
Outside, the marsh wind whispers across the reeds, but inside the cottage everything feels calm and safe. His fingers move slowly through my hair in a quiet, absent rhythm.
“Princess,” he murmurs softly.
“Yes, Threx?”
“I will not allow them to take you.”
I tilt my head slightly so I can see his face in the dim light.
“I know.”
That night sleep comes easily. Wrapped in warmth. And the presence of the demon who refuses to leave my side.
Morning arrives quietly.Sunlight slips through the repaired window in soft pale stripes, stretching slowly across the wooden floor and climbing the edge of the bed where I lie half awake beneath the blankets.
For a moment I do not move. Warmth surrounds me. Not the sharp, volatile heat of the link when fear stirs it, but a controlled, comforting warmth that feels almost like another heartbeat beside my own.
Then I remember why. Threxian. His arm is still wrapped loosely around my waist, one broad hand resting against my stomach as though it had settled there sometime during the night and simply never left. His body is warm against my back, solid and steady, that makes the small cottage feel far safer than it has in days.
I shift slightly. His arm tightens instinctively.
“You’re awake,” his voice murmurs softly behind me.
“I might be.”
“You stopped breathing like someone asleep several minutes ago.”
