Jasper moved with deliberate care, drawing the blankets snugly around Rory and adjusting the curve of his tail so it rested perfectly beneath her arms. She instinctively tightened her hold, cheek brushing against the smooth scales as her breathing evened out. Only when he was certain she was comfortable did he allow himself to pause.
Tomorrow, he would return to his clan.
What had happened earlier could not be ignored, brushed aside, or delayed. The elders would demand answers—and this time, he would not offer them excuses.
Jasper lingered beside Rory a moment longer, watching the gentle rise and fall of her chest, the faint crease between her brows finally smoothed away. Just as he began to close his eyes, a subtle ripple of ability brushed against his senses.
From the desk.
A thin streak of blue light slipped through the open window, vanishing silently into the night.
Jasper's gaze flicked back to Rory. She didn't stir.
Carefully, he rose and followed.
…
