The incident happened three hours after the shadow construct's departure.
Eve had retreated to the library after the war room meeting. needing space to process Malachai's threat, to prepare mentally for tomorrow's meeting with Seraphine, to simply exist for a moment without the weight of everyone's protective concern pressing down on her.
Maya had found her there, curled into one of the oversized armchairs with a book she wasn't really reading, her mind clearly elsewhere.
"Hey," Maya said softly from the doorway. "Elena said you might be here. Mind if I join you?"
Eve looked up and managed a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Please. Company would be good, actually."
Maya settled into the chair across from her, pulling her legs up underneath her in that casual way she had. She studied Eve's face with the particular attention of someone who had known her long enough to read what wasn't being said.
