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I take her hand and squeeze it, and she gives me a shaky smile. I hope she’ll try to sleep now, but when she’s still shifting around anxiously a few minutes later, I decide to act for her.
‘Forgot to make your tea,’ I murmur.
I get out of bed and boil the water over the small fire in the hearth. While she’s not watching, I pour in a sleeping draught as I steep the root, determined that she’s going to rest tonight.
I give it to her and watch as she drinks it all. She frowns a moment later as she begins to feel the effects of it, giving me an angry look as she drops to the pillow.
‘Was that wise?’ Dane drawls.
‘Was it wise for you to decide not to practice for tomorrow?’ I retort.
‘We’ll just have to make sure she looks most scared of you and Grey and more comfortable with me. Then they won’t choose me to be the one to do it.’
I just nod, too tired of this whole business to argue with him anymore.
I get in the bed next to the Harbinger.
‘Should you really be under the covers with her when she’s naked and in a drugged sleep?’ he mutters, sounding annoyed.
I chuckle, pulling her closer to spite him, and he rolls his eyes but doesn’t demand that I relinquish her.
Perhaps he’s learning that I won’t be denied.
I fall asleep with her in my arms.
* * *
I wake early the next morning. It’s dark and I can hear the pattering of rain on the roof, and I disentangle my limbs from the human girl still slumbering peacefully next to me, and I sit up slowly with a frown. Dane and Grey are still asleep in their places on the floor by the fire as well and I glance at the casement with a frown.
‘What time did you say we needed to meet with the council?’
Dane’s eyes open. ‘Half past eighth chime … if they had chimes here,’ he mumbles in annoyance.
I get out of bed and pad to the casement, throwing it open. ‘The weather is bad outside. It’s later than we think.’ I scan the buildings until I find the small clock tower several streets away and strain my eyes to see the time.
‘It’s past eight now,’ I mutter. ‘Get up.’
I hear Grey’s muttered ‘fuck’ and the rustling of him and Dane getting out of their blankets and beginning to get ready to leave quickly. I glanced over at the bed at the Harbinger. She's still asleep on her back, her hands next to her head with her palms facing up, fingers curled in sleep. She looks so innocent like that. I don't want to wake her. I also don't want to do the other thing.
I glance at the others. ‘There's something that we haven't thought of.’
Dane’s eyes flick to me as he packs the rest of his bag and stows his blankets. ‘What is it?’ he asks.
‘We’ve been focused on the release.’ I put my hand on Reyn’s book on the table and tap it. ‘But discipline is also considered important.’
I glance at the bed and back at him meaningfully, and I see Grey wince in my periphery.
‘Which one of us shall do it?’ he asks.
‘I will,’ I say, though I don’t really want to be the one.
I told her I wouldn’t hurt her unless she asked me, and she hasn’t yet. She hasn’t needed it.
I notice Grey and Dane glance at each other when they think I’m not looking, and I roll my eyes.
‘I won’t do it like last time,’ I say. ‘This is different.’
‘I’ll do it,’ Grey mutters. He gives me a look. ‘You’ll get carried away, and Dane won’t go hard enough.’
