Page 72 of His Stolen Bride

I don’t. I take the pencil, I start the puzzle, and I keep it simple so he can follow. Oisin leans in close, and his shoulder brushes mine without hesitation.

Alina watches that like it hurts her and comforts her at the same time.

“You’re staying inside today,” I tell Oisin, keeping my voice calm.

He sighs dramatically. “I know.”

“You’re not in trouble,” I add.

“I know,” he repeats, then he eyes me. “Is it bad outside?”

Alina freezes for half a second, then she covers it by reaching for her water.

I keep my gaze on the puzzle. “It’s busy outside.”

He nods like that makes sense. “Busy means cars.”

“Yes,” I say. “So we stay inside.”

He accepts it, then points at the page. “That one is wrong.”

“It’s not wrong,” I tell him. “It’s unfinished.”

He grins like he caught me anyway.

Alina speaks softly. “I’ll write the reply.”

“I know,” I answer, and I keep my tone even. “You’ll do it off-site. Sofia will stay with him while you go.”

Her eyes sharpen. “Off-site where?”

“Not in this house,” I repeat. “Not on any network tied to us.”

She nods once, then she looks at Oisin. “We’ll do a story later.”

Oisin perks up. “Sofia story.”

Alina smiles. “Sofia story. Two.”

“Two is fair,” he declares, and he points at me like I’m the judge.

I nod once. “Two is fair.”

Alina’s gaze holds mine a beat longer than necessary, and there’s heat there, and there’s trust trying to exist in the same space as fear. I don’t let myself soften, and I don’t let myself pull away.

“You’ll keep him close,” she says quietly.

“Yes,” I answer.

“And you’ll keep your people from scaring him,” she adds.

I look at her. “Yes.”

Oisin looks between us. “Are you talking about loud?”

Alina’s hand goes to his hair automatically, smoothing. “We’re talking about being careful.”

I lift my hand and tap the table once, gentle. “No one will be loud at you.”