“Then I will sit with her until he does.”
Sule’s attention dropped briefly to the curve of Leena’s belly before returning to her face.
“The first sign of danger, you leave.”
“Yes.”
“If the female wakes, you leave.”
“Yes.”
“If Rhen—”
“I know.”
His mouth flattened.
Leena rose slightly and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
“The council is waiting for you.”
“They can wait.”
“They have already spent half the night threatening one another. Leaving them unattended may be the greater danger.”
That earned the faintest shift in his expression.
He looked toward Mary.
“You remain outside this door. If Leena calls, you send for me immediately.”
Mary dipped her head.
“Yes, Majesty.”
Sule turned back to Leena.
“I mean it.”
“So do I.”
For one long moment, he did not move. Then he touched her face, his thumb passing once over her cheek before he stepped away.
“I adore you,” he said quietly.
Leena’s expression softened.
“I know.”
His gaze lingered on her before he finally turned and disappeared down the corridor toward the council chamber.
Only when his footsteps had faded did Leena look at Mary.
“How is she really?”
Mary’s lips pressed into a thin line as she glanced toward the closed door.
“Barely holding on.”
