Thornak lifted Lara from the floor as if she weighed nothing and set her gently on the edge of his bed. His touch was warm, steady, grounding after the long journey.
"Welcome home, wife," he said quietly.
Lara's breath hitched.
"It still feels strange to hear you call me that," she admitted, eyes lowering for a moment.
He knelt in front of her, hands resting on her knees. "I am sorry for what my mother did," he said. "None of it should have touched you."
"I know," Lara whispered. "But… I'm worried about her."
"We'll find her," Thornak promised. "Kael, Seralyn, the witches — everyone is working. The only problem is the sorcerer. He keeps planting things to mislead our trackers. Kael said the paths twist every time they think they're close."
Lara nodded slowly. A long silence passed between them.
Then she took a breath. "I need to ask you something," she said. "Something I didn't get the chance to ask you earlier tonight."
Thornak straightened. "What is it?"
