"Here!" Heather called brightly into the shadows. "We are here!"
The words echoed off the hedges, swallowed and softened, but unmistakable.
Chris's brows lifted slightly.
'Ah. So we had reached that part of the program.'
He turned his head just enough to speak, his voice still calm and warm.
"Heather…"
"Shh!"
She slapped her hand over his mouth. Actually slapped it there.
Her eyes widened immediately afterward, as if she had only just realized she had placed her bare palm over the mouth of Saha's consort and emotional support of an apex predator of a king.
"Sorry," she whispered, mortified but refusing to remove her hand. "But you need to not talk for a second."
Chris stared at her, black eyes unblinking.
Then, very carefully, nodded.
She took a slow breath like someone preparing to deliver state secrets.
"Okay," she said quietly, leaning close, as if the hedges themselves might be informants. "Something is… happening."
