Page 163 of Alien Burn

“The advocate says I can add to my account if I remember anything else,” she said.

He remained in the doorway, heat spreading through him at the sight of her in his clothes. Yesterday he had carried her out bleeding. Now she sat with a book on her knees and her bare legs tucked beneath her, waiting for him to come home. He gripped the doorframe before she could see his hand shake.

“Dhomhes?”

“I'm listening.”

She looked down at herself, then back at him.

“You don't appear to be listening.”

“I'm managing both.”

Her smile spread slowly.

He closed the door.

There was a bottle on the table with a note from the medic, apparently left for him after a previous visit. Sereya caught him looking at it.

“I thought about it. Then I decided I'd rather remember the evening.”

“Tea?”

“Later. Tell me what happened.”

He sat at the other end of the window seat. He told her about Fowles, and Havent, and the expression on Havent's face when Ruthak approached with the attestation in his hand.

She began laughing before Dhomhes realized he was doing Havent's voice.

“Tivek was right.”

“About what?”

“You should never be permitted to do that in public.”

“I rely on the discretion of my audience.”

“A dangerous habit.”

She put the book aside and moved closer. Her knee touched his thigh.

“How was Hawn?”

The amusement left him.

“Waiting.”

She rested a hand on his arm. He looked down at it, then back at her.

“You don't have to make this an entertaining report,” she said.

He hadn't known how tired he was of trying to leave every person he visited a little steadier than he found them.

Sereya's fingers moved to his jaw.

“May I?” she asked.

He turned his face into her hand.