Later that night, the compound settled into a profound, heavy quiet. Linda and Rowan had taken my room down the hall, leaving Drakon and me in his quarters. The room was dark, saved from pitch black only by the silver moonlight filtering through the high window.
I was lying with my head resting against Drakon's bare chest, listening to the slow, steady rhythm of his heart beneath my ear. One of his broad hands idly traced soothing circles on my back, his fingers twirling lightly through my hair.
"Linda said they're thinking of leaving tomorrow," I murmured into the quiet air, tracing a faint scar across his collarbone.
Drakon didn't pause his rhythm. "I know you wanted them to stay longer," he said softly, his deep voice vibrating against my cheek.
"Yeah," I admitted, taking a quiet br
