Perhaps it was the flickering flames casting a soft glow on her features, or the vulnerability of the young child in her arms. For a fleeting moment, he wondered if there was more to her than he had ever known.
"I'm sorry," he said, breaking the silence. "For barging in here like this. I should have knocked."
Nymira smiled at him, a glint of mischief in her eye. "Don't worry about it," she said.
"You're always welcome here, whether I'm dressed or not."
Nymira's gaze drifted over him, a thoughtful expression on her face. "You know, I've been thinking," she began. "Maybe it's time we spend more time together, just the two of us. We can go for walks, talk about anything and everything."
Darian's eyes widened in surprise. It had been years since they had done anything like that. He had al
