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“Replacing the chandelier for normal lights,” he says, staring at the chandelier in his hands.

“Why?” I ask confused, I know there is nothing wrong with it, it worked perfectly fine. He scratches the back of his neck.

“It’s old,” is all he says, though the way he looks at it and the strange feeling coming through the bond, I have a feeling he is removing it for another reason, though I couldn’t work out why.

“Everything in here is old, what did the chandelier do?” I ask curiously, out of the outdated antique furniture he could replace, he chooses a perfectly good chandelier.

He says nothing, but instead looks up at the ceiling, his eyes darkening slightly as they flicker. He mutters something too low for me to hear before jumping off the table and walking to the corner of the room where I notice nearly every chandelier in the castle has been placed.

“Did you take them all down?” I ask looking to the ceiling and realising he had in fact taken the other two down and replaced them with normal ceiling lights. I look behind me and realize the hallway one is gone too.

“Why are you awake?” he asks, changing the subject of his midnight renovations and making me realize where I was going in the first place.

“To use the bathroom,” I tell him, about to turn around and walk out.

“Wait, I will come with you.”

“I don’t need you to hold my hand to pee. I’ve been toilet trained since I was a child,” I say.

His lips twitch in amusement before he shakes his head and walks over.

“It’s dark, and I haven’t replaced some of the lights yet, especially on the stairs,” he says, taking my hand. I stare at his grip as he lifts it, pressing a kiss to my knuckles.

“Just let me walk you upstairs,” he says. My brows furrow and I give in, nodding. We walk out of the dining room when he suddenly stops, looking up at the ceiling, his grip on my hand tightening slightly.

“What is it?” I ask looking at the ceiling to where he just removed the chandelier. He shakes his head, snapping himself out of wherever his mind took him too.

“Nothing, come on,” he says, leading the way upstairs.

I step into the bedroom, then duck into the bathroom, my bladder screaming for relief. After washing my hands, I walk out to find Silas sitting at the end of the bed, waiting. His gaze shifts to Matitus and Dragus, sleeping peacefully.

“You can sleep in here Lora, I will sleep somewhere else,” he says, getting up and pulling the blanket back. He nods toward the bed. Guilt hits me when I feel his desire to be in the bed with them.

“It’s fine I liked where I was,” I tell him.

“Elora please I will be busy all night anyway,” he says, and I see Matitus stir in his sleep behind him. I look to the door when he moves, stepping closer, gripping my face and making me meet his gaze.

“Stay,” he whispers, he looks exhausted. How hadn’t I noticed how tired he looks, was his sleep as restless as ours? I nod and he lets go, stepping aside as I climb in the bed. Silas moves the blanket over me, about to turn away when I grab his hand. He stops, looking down at me and I wriggle over. He looks at me questionably. I pull the blanket back and he looks to the door, now confused.

I am just as confused, I want him to stay yet part of me is scared if he does, though I know I always sleep better with them beside me. Plus, we haven’t all been in the same bed in ages, now looking at Silas, I can see how lonely he must have been in this room by himself.

“Come to bed,” I tell him. He looks at me, shocked by what I said when I tug his hand. He waits to see if I will change my mind.

“You won’t be angry in the morning when you wake up beside me?” he asks, and I can tell he is confused by my actions and wondering if me being tired was making me act this way.

“No, Silas, just come to bed. You look as tired as I feel,” I say. He nods, pulls off his shirt, and climbs in, settling as far away as the bed allows.

I move closer, resting my head on his warm chest, breathing in his calming scent. For the first time in ages, I feel home—truly home. I know it won’t last, but for now, I let myself enjoy it.

His lips press against my head, his arm wrapping around me, pulling me closer. Sleep takes me in his warmth.