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I move my head to the side to look at her face, and I see a tear dripping from her eye. It falls over the bridge of her nose and lands on my chest. That tiny drop might as well be a spike to my heart. I hate it when she cries.
Gently wiping the wetness from her face, I ask, “Why are you so sad?”
Instead of forming an answer with words, she just breaks down. Closing her eyes, she clings to me as she continues decorating my skin with her tears.
I look out the window. The shadow the house is casting on the lawn is long and dark, meaning the suns are merging in the east.
It’s dusk.
Hannah doesn’t need to explain her emotional outburst. I told her I’d give her today, but the day is almost done.
After this, we’ll part once again.
I’m about to tell her how sorry I am. Maybe throw in a few promises I’m not sure I can keep. Anything to get her to stop crying.
Unfortunately, a loud sound startles us both.
Thud, thud, thud.
The noise is so unexpected, so out of place, it takes me a second to realize someone is knocking.
Someone’s at our door.
ELLISTER
“Why would anyone be here?” Hannah’s question is sluggish and slurred.
She wore herself out, and now she’s struggling to stay awake.
“No worries, darling,” I assure her, even though I’m certain there are many worries to be had. I just don’t want to cause her panic, especially when she needs sleep so badly. “I’ll take care of everything.”
Deliberately keeping my facial expression light, I slip her nightgown over her head, manipulating her arms through the sleeve holes.
Her eyes are still red and puffy from crying, but they’re closed before I’ve guided her head to the pillow. Her features relax and her breathing evens out.
The knocking comes again.
The loud pounding doesn’t make Hannah stir, but each thud goes straight to my temper.
I’m so angry at the intrusion, I can’t even process the fact that we shouldn’t be having visitors when only one person knows we’re here.
I can assume it’s Rymus, but I’m smart enough to know assumptions are dangerous in this world.
After grabbing my own clothes, I hastily put on my pants before stabbing my feet into my boots. I don’t bother with the laces and I forego a shirt, keeping my wings out as a sign of aggression.
Taking my time, I retrieve a pitcher of water from the kitchen and pour a glass for Hannah. She’ll be thirsty when she wakes from her nap, and I set the drink on the nightstand next to the bed.
When I finally answer the door, there’s no one there. I step out onto the front stoop, glance to my left, and see Rymus approaching the barn.
He’s several feet from the double doors, hesitating to enter the dilapidated structure. Smoke is seeping through the roof’s peppered holes, and he shields his eyes as he looks up to study it.
What a nosy bastard.
I move toward him with quick strides.
“Do you always snoop on your neighbor’s property without permission?” My barking tone startles him, and he turns toward my hostile glare. “Perhaps that’s why the last people left.”
Squaring his shoulders, he keeps a cool mask in place as he gestures to the building. “I saw the smoke from my house. I thought you had a fire.”
