"Why didn't you stay asleep?" she demanded, changing tactics because acknowledging the punishment comment would mean acknowledging what had happened in the cave.
I answered honestly because lying seemed pointless.
"I noticed your warmth was gone."
Simple. True. The moment my body had registered her absence it had woken me, had sent alarm signals that something was wrong because apparently I'd gotten so used to having her there that her warmth had become baseline, expected, necessary.
She stared at me for a moment.
Something complicated crossing her face. Emotions I couldn't quite read but that looked like they hurt, like my honesty had hit somewhere vulnerable.
Then she turned without a word.
Moved to the saddlebags, started pulling out the clothes Ryse had sent. Examined them briefly, nodded once in apparent approval, then gathered them against her chest like armor.
"I need to change." She didn't look at me. "Stay outside till I'm done."
I couldn't resist.
