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But he pulled the reins on that, egged on by Katie’s warning wide-eyed glare.
“Sounds fun, Ayla,” Axur said, hesitantly swallowing his impulsivity toward a frosty and prickly demeanor. “That’s very nice of you to put Katie into your story.”
He felt clunky with his words, but Ayla didn't seem to notice. Her plum eyes spun an iridescence he had rarely seen. Katie beamed in silent approval.
When he saw the way Katie’s face lit up, he understood why Ayla would want to envision her as the heroine of the tale. She was certainly stunning enough for the role.
“Queen Katie!” Ayla called out with amusement.
They were nearly finished with her book when it came time for his niece to go to bed. The hour was late, and darkness draped the lands like a velvet quilt. Ayla was testy about it at first, but as usual, Katie was very convincing.
There was a tenderness there that Axur was beginning to admire, combined with a sturdy disciplinary approach hidden just beneath it. His niece went to sleep with little protest, and Katie returned to the lounge on her own.
Axur cleaned up the toys his niece played with throughout the day and gathered them into a bin Katie had created for them. He also placed her books in a neat stack on the table in front of the sofa, patiently waiting for their pages to be turned when the next storytelling evening came upon them.
“Thank you, again, that’s really helpful,” Katie said.
She had softly closed the door behind her. She had changed into a loose-fitted T-shirt and pajama pants. Her blonde hair was disheveled and flowed down the side of her shoulder.
Axur dared to estimate that she had removed her bra, and he observed a small bud poking through the fabric of her top. A terrible thought crossed his mind … rather graphic and salacious … and he forced himself to avert his gaze to the roaring fire.
“It is really nothing. I appreciate all you are doing for her.”
Katie sat on the couch, tucking her bare feet under her. Axur could only see her in his peripheral vision, but he intuited that she was readying herself to ask him something. He dared to look back, one eyebrow firmly cocked in inquisition.
“What is it?” he asked.
Katie let out a sound that stood between a scoff and a laugh. Axur didn’t respond to it. He watched her pin her elbow along the back of the couch and run her fingers through her hair, musing.
“I wanted to tell you that I’ve been thinking of taking Ayla somewhere fun. Not that it isn’t fun here, but I think some fresh air and getting back out into the world would be good for her. What do you think?”
Katie wasn’t one to avoid eye contact. It was something the general enjoyed about her. She was sensitive and kind but blunt when she needed to be, especially when it came to Ayla. He tried not to scan her expression for her true meaning and emulated her frankness.
“What are you asking?” he said, his clipped tone cutting through the air like a blade.
Katie did not hesitate, her expression indifferent.
“I know you want to stay out of it, which is why I’m not asking you to come with us. I’m letting you know, well, since you are still her guardian and my boss. I can’t just take her somewhere without you knowing.”
That warm sensation returned, catching the general off guard. A part of him was offended that she wasn’t asking him to accompany them, but then again, another part knew exactly why. He had been clear about his intentions with his niece. The situation was temporary, and getting attached was not only careless but quite stupid.
Yet something else, something foreign and delicate, made him feel like he wanted to go. He wanted to smother it, but another part wanted to be around them both. What good was that?
The words flew out of his mouth faster than he expected. He barely understood it but felt the inclination to follow that feeling.
“Where are you planning on going?” he asked.
“There’s an aquarium I have heard a lot about. Plus, Ayla seems really into stories about animals. Or royalty. I figured one out of two ain't bad.”
Something in Katie’s tone hinted at jest, but he didn't understand the reference. She shook her head and smiled, further heating the sensation in his chest.
“Why don’t I come with you? I don’t think I have ever been …”
That time, Katie did scoff, but she lit up at the same time. “That would be wonderful. Ayla would love to hear that.”
They each retreated to their bedrooms soon after the discussion of logistics, with Axur having a restless night. He was oddly and unexpectedly excited when he woke, knowing that his day would be spent with two people who were the opposite of what the military world offered him.
They dressed for the occasion with the sweaters for Katie which had been brought in with an overnight shipment, which she was impressed with. Once they were heading out the door into the bright sunlight, Axur’s communicator buzzed in his pocket.
