Page 61 of The Silent
“And Ginny would help,” Sura said. “I’ll call her once we haveaplan.”
Niran stared at Alyah for a long minute before he nodded. “Then I accept your help in guarding our sisters. My men will remain in authority here, but we will take youroffer.”
“Understood,” Alyah said. “Thank you for yourtrust.”
Niran said nothing else, but his eyes returned to the map. “The longer we wait, the farther they cantakeher.”
“Where is Arindam himself?” Leoasked.
“He moves.” Sura gestured over the map. “I can think of half a dozen secluded places hemighthide.”
Leo shook his head. “I know nothing about Myanmar, so I don’t know how much helpI’llbe.”
“We’ll plan everything.” Niran glanced at Kyra. “You take care of our radarsystem.”
* * *
She looked exhausted.Her eyelids were drooping, and there were dark circles under her eyes. Leo picked her up halfway through the forest and carried her to thecottage.
“I can walk,” she protested even as she laid her head on hisshoulder.
“But why would you when I can carry you soeasily?”
“Leo…”
“Hmm?”
She yawned. “I don’t remember what I was goingtosay.”
“I’m going to stay with you tonight,” he said. “I can sleep on the floor. Or if you don’t want me in the cottage, I can sleep on theporch.”
“That doesn’t soundcomfortable.”
Leo smiled. “I’ve slept in worse places.Trustme.”
She paused, and Leo thought she might have fallenasleep.
“My bed is big enough for both of us,” she said quietly. “But… just forsleep.”
“Whatever you want,ana sepora.” His heart sang. He’d be able to hold her as sheslept.
“That’s Irin language. I recognized the sounds. What doesitmean?”
“My bird.” He kissed the top of her head. “Because I want to watchyoufly.”
“Leo…”
“Hmm?”
Kyra had fallenasleep.
Leo sang a low song as he walked through the forest. It was a song of thanksgiving, the same song he’d sung kneeling before her when he realized that Kyra was truly hisreshon.
“And what doesreshonmean?”
“What?”
“Reshon. Your voice was very, veryclear…”
