We didn't sleep.
Didn't speak much either.
By the time we dragged ourselves back to the estate, the sun had fully risen. Pale again. Like the world hadn't quite figured out how to be warm yet.
Felix looked like hell. Mud on his boots. Dry blood on his sleeve. A bruise just under his eye. He didn't seem to care. I didn't either. My side ached where that merc nicked me, and my coat had a hole in it that hadn't been there before.
The gates creaked shut behind us.
The estate was still asleep. Or pretending to be.
We entered through the servant's wing. Quieter. Less eyes. Mira was in the corridor near the kitchen, clutching a cup of tea like it was the only thing keeping her tethered to reality.
She didn't say anything. Just looked at us. Then looked away.
Smart girl.
We made it to my guest room. Shut the door. Locked it.
I poured us both a drink from the cabinet. Cheap brandy. Probably older than Felix.
