"You've been asleep for three days."
It was normal. A female's first bonding could be exhausting—sleeping longer afterward wasn't unusual.
As long as her aura was steady and she was safe, that was what mattered.
"I slept for three days?"
Rory stared at Nix in disbelief. The last time she had slept that long was three years ago—after spending seven days and nights in the forest without rest, hunting aberrant beasts for their cores.
"Where's Jasper?"
Of course she would ask about him first.
Nix suppressed the faint sourness in his chest and replied, "He's in Vincent's study. Do you want to see him? I can call him over."
He was already reaching for his light-brain.
"No need." Rory shook her head quickly. Just knowing where Jasper was, was enough.
She lowered her gaze to her chest.
Beneath Vincent's firebird mark now rested a small violet-black serpent—the symbol of her bond with Jasper.
It looked quiet. Composed. Almost solemn.
