Exton

I follow Star, turning back to speak to Keon and Guunnar before we leave.

"If you've spoken the truth, all the truth, then you have my sincerest apologies. If you haven't… it's time to stop protecting her from every little thing. She's stronger than you know."

And with that, I follow Star up the stairs.


In my room, I kick off my boots and get undressed as quickly as my aching body will let me. "Think you're up to another shower? I can probably use the support."

Star smiles and nods, and quickly undresses. She follows me into the bathroom and starts the shower. She nods when it's warm enough, and I follow her in.

The hot water is like a massage, soothing away the last of the aches and pains - at least, all that can be soothed without some major rest. Star presses her sweet body to mine and kisses me, carefully washing me without disturbing the dressings Rowan put in place.

I sit on the edge of the bed watching while she dries off. She walks to the lamp, turns it off and joins me in the bed. Her body molds naturally to mine, fitting herself to me unselfconsciously, and her lips find mine again. "I love you." The words are barely a whisper, a breath across my mouth.

"I love you." I pull her close, wind my arms around her - and sometime in the next few minutes, sleep overtakes me.