Page 98 of Keeper

I sigh and roll onto my back. Maybe I should start naming the shadows. That one looks like a rabbit. And that one...well, that one looks suspiciously like Cenric’s profile.

Wonderful. Even the shadows are conspiring against me now.

“Everly.”

I blink, wondering if my ears actually heard him or if I imagined he spoke.

“Go to sleep,” Cenric says, his voice thick with drowsiness.

Unable to contain my frustration, I snort. “That’s easy for you to say. You’ve been snoring in my ear.”

Cenric shifts behind me, and I brace myself for another icy retort, but what happens next sends a jolt through my entire body. His arm snakes around my waist, and with a gentle tug, he pulls me flush against him. My back presses against his chest, and I feel the steady thump of his heartbeat.

I lie there, rigid, hardly daring to breathe. This can’t be real. I must have fallen asleep without realizing it.

“Sleep. Tomorrow will be here soon enough.” His words rumble through his chest, vibrating against my back.

I want to argue, to demand answers about his sudden change in behavior. But the comfort of his embrace is too enticing, and I relax into it.

Chapter

Fifty-Five

CENRIC

Snow driftslazily from the sky, coating the world in a white blanket. I sit on a log, watching the flakes settle on my boots and melt against the warmth of the fire crackling before me.

Everly plops down beside me with a bowl of steaming porridge cradled in her hands. She blows on it, sending wisps of steam curling into the air. Her cheeks are flushed from the cold, a rosy hue that makes her look even more beautiful than usual.

I think about last night, how right it felt to hold her close. The warmth of her body against mine, the softness of her hair tickling my chin.

As we eat, Rosa approaches with those two little girls. She settles on a nearby log, helping the girls balance their bowls on their laps. The younger one giggles as snowflakes land on her nose.

The sound pierces through me, reminding me of a time longpast. A time when Rosa took me and Praxis outside to play in the snow.

It was rare. Usually, she spent all her time in her bedchamber. But that day, she had spent time with us.

Everly shifts beside me, her shoulder brushing mine as her eyes dart between Rosa and me. She doesn’t speak, but I sense her curiosity, her concern. It takes everything in me not to meet her gaze, to maintain this facade of indifference.

The older girl jumps up, spreads her arms wide, and spins. Her laughter rings out, pure and joyous, as she twirls faster and faster.

“Look at me,” she calls out. “I’m dancing in the snow.”

The girl’s blonde hair fans out behind her, dotted with white flakes. Her cheeks flush with excitement. Her eyes sparkle with wonder.

Everly grins as she watches her.

The younger girl toddles after her sister, arms outstretched as she tries to gather snowflakes in her hands. She stumbles, and her older sister catches her.

“Careful, Helena,” the older sister warns. “Or you’ll trip.”

“I not.” The younger one shakes her head fiercely.

I stand, carry my bowl to the cart, and stack it onto the other dirty ones. Everly follows me and places her bowl atop mine. Concern emanates from her, but I can’t bring myself to speak to her.

Instead, I turn on my heel and stride toward my command tent. The tent flap rustles behind me as Everlyfollows me inside.

I move to sit at the table, but she doesn’t follow me. She stands at the entrance, watching me, her eyes far too keen.

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