Two days later, Rafael had accomplished three objectively impressive feats.
He had slept, eaten, and ignored his phone with the unwavering, immovable determination of a titan holding up the sky.
Gregoris had been called away on Shadows business, the kind of work Rafael knew better than to ask about unless he wanted migraines, classified documents, or both. He left at dawn with the quiet certainty of a man who expected his world to remain exactly where he put it. Rest. Obey sensible instructions. Don't antagonize anyone with a military rank. He hadn't said those words out loud, but the look had communicated them with painful clarity.
Rafael had been alone since. Well. Alone with Shadows.
Which was not the same thing.
