Clearance had been granted to Cerulean to enter the Prison of Elders to retrieve Skolas' Elder Cipher and they had been called to the Tower for briefing. It was common for messengers to be sent when the Tower was bogged down with Guardians, but the added confusion involving a Zavala impersonator had only made matters worse.

Cayde had eaten his lunch in the command center, doing his best not to laugh as Guardians ran in and out with random items "Zavala" had requested only to find out he had no idea what they were talking about. Their stoic leader was close to his breaking point and the area around his end of the table was littered with wrapped foods, knickknacks, toiletries, books, lady's underwear, and more. Whoever had done this deserved a medal and Cayde hoped he'd find out who did it because he wanted to shake their hand.

Cerulean wandered in, talking and laughing among themselves, except for Flak who came in last, away from the main group. Wren wasn't among them either. When Beorn and Franz saw the pile around Zavala and another Guardian bringing him a watermelon then snickered to themselves and Cayde smirked. It was them! Oh, if Big Blue found out, those two would be on Crucible clean up duty until they dropped.

Several minutes passed as Zavala explained to the watermelon toting Guardian that he did not, in fact, want a watermelon and that it had been a prank they were trying to sort out. When he was finished, Wren still wasn't there, and Zavala noticed immediately.

"Where is Wren?" he asked.

"We're not sure, Commander," Rorick answered.

"She was with us a few hours ago but she said she was going back to her den," Franz said.

"With the comm systems being cluttered we've not been able to get a call through to her."

"We should wait a little longer for the messengers we sent to her room and den," Ikora said. "It's unlike her to not answer a call."

Koro trotted down the stairs and bowed to Zavala, then set a large, sealed jug on the table in front of him. "I got your order, Commander. I'll admit, I've never had that big of an order for spicy ramen before."

Zavala sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm sorry, Koro, but there's been some issues today with someone impersonating me and I surely didn't request spicy—" he cut himself off and glared at Cayde.

"Don't look at me!" Cayde threw his hands up. "Whoever did this is a genius but I'm innocent this time."

"You'd have to be innocent if the prankster is a genius," Ikora grinned.

"Oh that's just—"

"Enough," Zavala said. "I'll pay you for your troubles."

"Have you seen Wren?" Franz asked.

"Not since last night," Koro shrugged.

Cayde stiffened and shifted his weight. "Uh…. Last night?"

"Yeah. We went to a bookstore over by the market district. What's going on?"

"We haven't been able to reach her for a mission," Rorick said. "If you see her, send her here, please."

Koro nodded.

"I'm afraid we don't have time to wait," Zavala said. "Once the messengers return, I have to send Cerulean out to the Prison. The longer Skolas is allowed to keep his Elder Cipher, the worse the situation in the Prison will get."

Cayde couldn't shrug off Wren's disappearance like he had Flak's. While the others talked about where they might look for Wren, Cayde stepped aside and got Sundance to try to reach out to Kiran but the reply was pure static. What could be distorting the signal like that? Had she gone off world?

It took several attempts to reach Holliday in the hanger and when she answered it was chaos on the other side and he could hardly hear her.

"Holliday?"

"I'm here. What cha need?"

"Is Wren's ship still in the hanger?"

"Ha! You finally said her name right. Hold on, let me check real quick. Hmm… okay, yeah, it's still here. Got it scheduled for maintenance in 'bout twenty minutes. Does she need it now? It's alright to fly."

"No, she just didn't show up for a mission. If you see her, send her my way."

"Will do."

This didn't sit well with Cayde. His stomach rolled and he just felt like something wasn't quite right. He watched Flak who was propped against a nearby wall, picking his nails with a throwing knife but he didn't look up from his hands.

"Holliday says her ship is still in the hanger," Cayde said.

"Commander!"

They turned to a civilian who was running down the stairs on shaky legs. Sweat plastered his curly black hair to his forehead and he braced on the table, struggling to catch his breath.

"Get him a chair," Ikora demanded and a woman from the monitor behind her rushed down with a folding chair the man collapsed into.

"Guardian," he panted, "stuck… in a tank."

"A tank?"

"Water tank."

"Could it be Wren?" Ikora looked at Cayde.

"Where? What tank?" Cayde asked.

"Above old Hunter den." He shook so badly the chair rattled and his breathing was strained and ragged. "Darktalons den."

"Dammit," Cayde hissed.

"What? Do you know where that is?" Sisre asked.

"Yeah, but it's halfway across the City. I'm going to check it out myself." Cayde ran out to the Courtyard, Sisre hot on his heels.

"Express route?" Sisre asked, running toward the edge of the Tower.

Cayde didn't much like throwing himself off the Tower but it would be faster than waiting on elevator and Wren was out there somewhere, possibly in danger. Trapped. Drowning. It'd happened before. Civilians getting stuck in the tanks by accident. But a Guardian? He'd never heard of that before.

"Wait!"

Cayde turned to see Koro running toward them, waving them down.

"I want to help," he said.

"No way."

"But—"

"Look, I appreciate it, but you're not a Guardian."

"So?"

Cayde jabbed his thumb toward the edge of the Tower.

"You can jump, but only once."

Koro's eyes went wide and Cayde waved him off.

"We got this. Now go on." Cayde didn't wait for Koro to speak again. Sisre was getting impatient and she jumped before him.

Wind whipped around them, his cloak snapping up around his throat. The ground approached fast but it was still a long way off and they were only picking up speed. There was a chance they could survive the fall, but sometimes surviving was worse than death.

Cayde used his first boost to slow him down, then the second to push closer to a rooftop. When he hit, he rolled and ripped shingles off the roof as he slid down the steep slope. Sisre wasn't so lucky. She wasn't able to slow down enough and her landing went bad. She slid off the roof, dead to the street below. Luckily, Zavala had this area evacuated ages ago just because of things like this.

Sambo revived Sisre and she was back up to the rooftop before Sundance could heal Cayde and the pair of them were off again, Cayde leading the way, they took to the rooftops, crossing busy streets below that the civilian messenger likely had to fight his way through.

The rooftop to the old Darktalons den looked abandoned from afar, but Cayde could see the water tank and a tiny light on top of it. When they neared he realized it was Kiran. He sat on the lid of the tank, constantly putting out a distress signal that Cayde didn't get until he was a couple buildings over.

When Kiran caught sight of them, he jerked up and stopped his distress signal, his light getting a little brighter.

"Finally!" he said. "I've been trying for so long."

"Where's Wren?" Sisre asked.

"She's…" he hesitated and glanced at the lid.

Cayde scrambled up the ladder and Sisre jumped on top of the tank. He noticed the little hole in the lid before he yanked it open and realized it was from Golden Gun shots.

At first he couldn't see Wren in the tank and wondered if Kiran was mistaken but then he saw her, floating a few feet below the surface, face down. Sisre jumped in after her and pulled her up. Cayde reached in to retrieve her, then help Sisre out.

He laid Wren down on the top of the tank, her skin pale from lack of oxygen. She was so heavy between dead weight and her soaked clothing. He couldn't help but imagine how she must have felt with them dragging her down.

"She's been gone for a while," Kiran said. "I thought it would be more merciful to not resurrect her."

"She must have been scared to death," Cayde muttered, catching Sisre's confused expression. Did she not know Wren's fear of dark places and deep water? He let it go. "Bring her back."

Kiran hovered over Wren and suddenly her eyes snapped open and she sat up, gasping for air. Sisre caught her and soothed her but Wren's fingertips dug into Cayde's leg. He took her hand and gave it a squeeze and after a few minutes she was able to calm her breathing and Sisre laid her back to let her rest.

"What happened?" Sisre asked, brushing Wren's hair away from her face where it stuck in thick clumps.

"Emelie and her meat slab of a boyfriend," Kiran said. Wren closed her eyes and nodded. "And another Hunter from Emelie's den. They got mad because Wren, Beorn, and Franz played a prank on her."

"It was just me," Wren said. "I… I sent her that dessert in the dumpling shop."

"Right. Emelie came up to me thinking I sent it. She was pretty pissed but I didn't think she'd do something like this because of a dumb prank. I swear I'm going to make Emelie pay." He started to stand, ready to go after Emelie but Sisre caught his arm and pulled him back.

"What are you going to do?"

Cayde looked down at Wren who was rubbing her face with her palms. The anger that burned in his chest would have to wait. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. "We'll talk about it at the Tower. Do you think you can walk?"

Wren nodded and he helped her stand, which she was able to do with ease, but her entire body trembled. They'd not be able to travel the rooftops if she was still shaken up like that and then he realized she wasn't wearing shoes. She didn't protest when he couched in front of her, only grabbed his shoulders and let him pick her up for a piggy-back ride.

Her teeth chattered and she trembled all over, though from the cold or from fear he wasn't sure. His body heat should warm her up a bit and she must have felt it through his armor because she pressed in closer and hid her face in his scarf.

He stuck to the streets, knowing it would take longer to reach the Tower, but afraid the jostling of jumping between buildings might be worse off for her in the long run. They reached the elevator and Wren made no move to climb down from his back.

Cerulean waited at the top of the steps going down into the command center. Beorn and Franz stepped forward but Cayde jerked his head toward the stairs and the group descended. He took Wren over to Shaxx and sat her on one of his tall stools.

"Keep her here," he said.

"What happened? Why is she wet?"

"Long story. Just… keep an eye on her."

"Of course." He turned to Wren and put his fists on his hips. "How about a bracing cup of hot chocolate?"

"Hey, no booze," Cayde pointed and Shaxx waved him away. "Dammit."

Koro joined Wren, walking right past Cayde and Shaxx to hug her. Cayde stiffened as Koro spoke softly to Wren, fussing over her hair and checking her over for injuries. Zavala called from the other room and Cayde returned to his side of the table and crossed his arms over his chest. He explained what happened and what Kiran had told them about Emelie.

"I believe we have some things to sort out before this mission can begin," Zavala said. "Emelie is one of your Hunters, what do you deem a fitting punishment?"

"I want her den disbanded. I want her and that Titan boyfriend of hers exiled from the City and I—"

"No, don't do that," Sisre said. "If you do it'll only paint a target on Wren's back."

"So I should stand back and let my Hunters act like—"

"I didn't say that. I'm just saying that disbanding the den will backfire and it won't be on you."

"If I disband them and kick Emelie out, they won't do anything to Wren."

"Cayde," Zavala said, calling Cayde back from his anger. He didn't realize he'd started raising his voice until then and crossed his arms over his chest. "I believe your judgment is clouded here. Emelie obviously had malicious intent and she does deserve to face punishment, but what you're suggesting is beyond what I see as suitable. We can't afford to throw Guardians out. If she does anything out of line again, we should consider our options, but she's never harmed another Guardian before."

Cayde clenched his jaw. "Fine. Since I don't know the other Hunter, I'm banning the whole den from missions for a month and they'll be cleaning up the Crucible instead."

"Very well," Zavala said.

"And I want Emelie on house arrest. She only leaves her room for Crucible duty, and that's it."

"Understood."

"I feel… I am in part guilty for what happened to Wren," Beorn said. "I was the one who impersonated you, Commander. I never meant for it to go this far."

Zavala stood a little straighter and Cayde thought he might blow a gasket, but he took a deep breath and calmed himself before replying.

"Then you'll be helping Emelie's den in clean up for the next week and I'm holding you back from this mission as well."

"Understood, Commander. If I would have known this would happen, I never would have done it. It wasn't my intention to cause Wren harm."

Zavala mulled it over, then nodded. "I understand. Next time consider your actions. You're dismissed."

"Yessir." Beorn bowed his head, muttered an apology to Ikora, and left.

"The rest of you will be going on without Wren as well. After today's events I want her to rest and recuperate before she's in the field again. Cayde, escort her back to her room and make it clear to her she is not to go off world until she's cleared for duty. You are all dismissed."

Cerulean walked ahead of Cayde who had hung back to get the spicy ramen Koro had been tricked into bringing to Zavala and he watched the fireteam and Koro from afar. Koro was still fretting over Wren but her fireteam had managed to push through. Rorick put a hand on her shoulder, Franz and Beorn touched foreheads with her, Sisre hugged her and Flak… he was already gone. The weak link in the chain.

Ikora came to stand beside him and watched for a moment before speaking.

"Cayde? Are you alright?"

"Just peachy."

"I haven't seen you get so upset about a Hunter in a long time. Ironic that it was about Emelie."

"My judgment isn't clouded."

"Don't take it personally," Ikora said. "Whether you like it or not, the line between Guardian and Vanguard is…. Blurred between you and Wren."

"Pft, that's crazy."

"Cayde, please."

"Even if it was, there's nothin' sayin' it can't. Be blurred I mean."

"No. No, there are no rules against it. But you know it usually doesn't end well, either. She's being ostracized by the other Hunters because of her proximity to you. And yet she's desperate for a connection and you are ready and waiting. I'm not trying to tell you what to do, it's your call in the end. I just want to make sure you're making the right call. For you, and for her."

Cayde didn't take his eyes off Wren and her fireteam but as soon as they had said their goodbyes and left, he walked away from Ikora without replying to her. It hurt to know she was right and he had to wonder if he was drawing close to her out of desperation too.

Zavala and Ikora were his fireteam, but things hadn't been the same with them in a long time and being Hunter Vanguard was… hard. In many ways it went against the grain of what a Hunter was supposed to be and he had to admit, the loneliness got to him more often than not these days.

"You can go back to the ramen shop now," Cayde said to Koro as he approached.

"I'd really like to stay with her," Koro said.

"I get it, but you have a job to do and… well, I have some things to talk to her about. Guardian things. Vanguard-ish kinda things."

Koro sighed and brushed Wren's bare shoulder with his knuckles. "I'll catch up with you later."

"Okay. Bye."

"Looks like your wings are clipped on this one, Bluejay," Cayde said, leaning on the table beside her, taking a little more enjoyment out of running Koro off. He grabbed the rim of her mug from the table and took a sniff, satisfied that he didn't smell any alcohol before handing it over to her.

"What? Why?"

"Don't get excited, I'll explain on the way."

"To where?"

"Your room."

"And if I don't want to go there?"

She began to shake worse, the drink in her cup sloshing toward the sides. Kiran rested on her shoulder, his little light shining up at her. Sundance floated over to him and nudged his side and he leaned toward her but didn't take his attention off Wren.

"Hey, calm down. I said I'd explain. Let's go."

Wren stared down into the Shaxx sized cup of hot chocolate in her hands, steam rising to meet her.

"Take it with you," Shaxx said. "I have plenty more."

"Thank you," she muttered as she slid from the stool and followed Cayde.

"I know it's not what you wanna hear," he said once they were in the elevator, "but I agree with Zavala on this one. It's better you hang around here for a bit."

"But why? I can fight." Her gaze met his and he was sure she meant to seem strong, defiant even, but their shine was gone. She was exhausted.

"Kid, you haven't stopped shaking since you were rezzed. You really don't need to be out there."

Wren walked slightly ahead of him to her room and unlocked the door, her trembling hand missing the lock a few times before she could let herself in. It was warm inside. Cozy. The grey curtains were pulled wide open, revealing the view to the City.

He hadn't seen her room since he first brought her here and it different than what he expected, but comfortable. Greys, white, and pale pinks. Fuzzy stuffed animals and stacks of new books that still had tags sat around on the bed and top of the dresser. She excused herself to the bathroom and came back a few minutes later in an oversized pink sweater and some shorts.

"Oh, I thought you were gone," she said.

"Wanted to make sure you're okay."

"I'm fine. I still want to go," she huffed, plopping down on her bed.

"I know you do, but this is for the best."

She looked so tired, leaning against her window to stare out at the City. He wanted to make her lay down and sleep. He wanted to sit beside her and make sure she rested, but his feet were rooted to the spot just inside her door.

"Why don't you try to get some sleep," he suggested.

"I don't know if I can."

"Do you need to spoon me again?"

She snorted and shook her head. "Let's not go there."

"What about some spicy ramen? I have some if you have bowls."

"Yeah. I have some in that little cabinet under the desk."

"Courtesy of Beorn and Franz' prank, by the way."

"I think I'm done with pranks."

Cayde fished out a couple of bowls and chop sticks and poured enough for the two of them. It was still steaming hot when he handed it over and Wren seemed to wrap around its warmth, her eyes closing as she breathed it in. He sat at the desk and ate while she slowly slurped and sniffled her way through the spicy meal. When she was finished, he could tell she was getting sleepy he took their bowls and rinsed them in the sink before returning them to the cabinet. Wren had slid back against the window and resumed staring absently over the City.

Kiran curled in close on Wren's lap and to Cayde's surprise, so did Sundance. Her shell clicked against Kiran's and Cayde sat down on the edge of the bed and put out a hand for Sundance, who ignored him, but Wren didn't.

She gave him an odd expression, then grabbed his hand and went back to looking outside. He, however, was wide eyed and staring at her hand in his and he felt like his brain was short circuiting. He glanced over at her, but she was still looking away, her eyes heavy. She was falling asleep. Actually, falling asleep. And she wasn't shaking so badly anymore.

Kiran and Sundance started humming a weird little tune Cayde had heard a million times before. Some mysterious way Ghosts could calm their Guardians and Cayde felt his shoulders relax some. Wren's eyes closed but she began to stroke her thumb slowly between his knuckles and he couldn't help but watch, lulled into this quiet place away from the bustling City. Away from the command center where responsibilities were weighing heavily these days. Away from the hanger were he still had a mess of tools to pry from his toolbox, or the countless Guardians fighting over bounties.

After a short time, her hand stopped. She was fast asleep, but he was reluctant to move, though he knew Zavala and Ikora would be expecting him back. But their words made him rethink it all. Blurred lines. He drew his thumb over the back of her hand, tracing the light that danced under her skin and wondered if it was really such a bad thing after all. Or if maybe he needed to cut his losses before it got too bad. Too hard to handle. But damn did he want to sit here and hold her hand forever.

Sundance came to sit on his shoulder as he helped Wren lay down and covered her up with her blanket.

"Thank you," Kiran said. "I know Wren can be hard to handle sometimes, but…"

"She's just independent is all. Lots of Hunters are like that. Myself included."

"She asked for you. In the tank. She kept insisting I get you. She does care, though she has a hard time showing it because…"

"Because why?"

"Never mind. Just… thank you for getting her out."

Cayde looked down at Wren's sleeping face, then her open palm where her hand stuck out from under the blanket. He reached out to touch it, then clenched his fist. He stood and walked toward the door, resting his hand instead on the Better Devils that sat on her desk. The little chain slid through his fingers and he observed the bird at the end.

"I guess she's really growing into her name. Even getting cute trinkets," he smirked.

"It was a present from Koro," Kiran said, settling in on Wren's pillow. "But yes, she does like her name."

"Koro, huh?" Cayde's smile faded and he rolled the bird between his fingers. "You uh, make sure she stays here and rests. She'll need her strength when Sisre gets back and throws her that birthday party."

"Are you coming? She wanted to ask you but," Kiran chuckled. "Well, you know how that goes."

"Yeah. Well, I don't know what's going on that day but I'll come if I can. G'night Kiran."

Cayde didn't wait for the Ghost to reply. He left Wren's room, locking the door for her on his way out, then went to roam the City. Screw Vanguard duties. It could wait.

Cayde stood in front of the window in his living room, swirling a glass of bourbon he'd taste but never feel and wondered why he even tried. Outside rain fell in sheets and the temperature had dropped. Power had gone out nearly a half an hour earlier when he'd had to return home. His armor hung in his shower to dry and he'd taken on some more comfortable clothing for the evening when sleep simply wouldn't come.

A few candles cast the living room in a pale, warm glow. Outside the only lights were those run on generators but for the most part the City was dark. On the table beside him were Wren's birthday present and the cake he bought her but now he wasn't so sure he even wanted to go. Or that it was a good idea.

What if Ikora was right?

That thought had run him in circles for hours, but he couldn't escape it. It wasn't a secret that he'd caused Wren trouble. He'd known it for a long time, but she didn't seem to mind him. For the most part. And he'd been careful lately about them being seen together, as hard as that was sometimes.

Maybe it would be better if he backed off. She had a good fireteam to fall back on. And Koro. That one left a sour taste in his mouth. The way he so openly soothed her, and nothing would ever come of it. Zavala would never tell Koro his judgment is clouded. Or Ikora tell him the line was blurred because… because of that damn dare.

That wasn't fair. Being Vanguard was a two-edged sword for him, but he'd been it for so long he didn't know what he'd do being a regular Guardian again.

"Why don't you read to me?" Sundance suggested, snuggling down on the top of the couch.

"Sure," he said, downing the drink and putting the glass in the sink before sitting down. "Any suggestions?"

"What about the one with the space pirate and the police lady?"

"We've read that one a million times." He sighed when she stared up at him with her puppy dog expression and he caved with a little smirk, opening the book to her favorite part. She'd ask him to skip to it anyway. He started reading to her, distracting his busy mind with the fictional world, the sound of rain pattering on his window.

The storm intensified outside, and the glass of his windows rattled but he wasn't worried. The Tower had withstood worse and would stand for a long time after this storm was gone.

"Did you hear that?" Sundance said, cutting Cayde off.

"Hear what?" he strained to hear beyond the rain and wind, but nothing happened.

Sundance floated toward the door. "Someone's here. Kiran?"

"Kiran?" That got Cayde up. He walked to the door and heard the faint knocking again. When he opened it, Wren was standing there in the nearly pitch-black hall, wrapped in a blanket which left her bare legs and feet exposed to the chill that had set in through the halls. "What the—"

She took a few steps forward and planted her head on his chest with a dull thud. Through his thin shirt he could feel her shaking.

"Nightmares," Kiran said, nudging Wren's shoulder.

Cayde pulled her inside and held her back a little to get a good look at her but she kept her eyes at some fixed point on his chest. She looked terrible. Dark rings had formed under her eyes which were red and puffy. Her bottom lip trembled slightly like she was on the verge of tears and her cheek was hot under his palm.

"She's burning up."

"I know," Kiran said. "But there's not much I can do, ya know."

Cayde guided Wren to the couch where she sat but her fist was tangled in the front of his shirt just above his pants. He took her hand and gently pried her fingers off.

"Hold on, kid, we gotta get that fever handled, okay?"

She nodded and laid over on the arm of the couch, pulling her feet up under the blanket she brought and watched him through half closed eyes while he got a cool washcloth and some tea. He sat beside her and put the mug on the cluttered end table beside her on an old book with half the pages missing.

"Sorry, I know you feel like you're cold but you gotta give the blanket up," he tugged at it and she sat up so he could lay it over the back of the couch. She shivered, teeth chattering as she pulled her legs up again. "Really glad I clipped your wings. Guess I shouldn't be surprised you caught cold after—" he cut himself off when Sundance shook to signal him to stop.

He laid the cool cloth over her forehead and she shrank away from it, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. She was miserable and dead tired. He couldn't take much satisfaction in knowing Emelie was in the Tower, even if it was under house arrest. She deserved worse.

Kiran and Sundance cuddled close on Wren's blanket while she sipped the tea, then put it back. At least she tried to get some of it down. Not much good anything would do until morning when the apocatharies opened and they could get something to ease her symptoms.

"Cayde was just reading to me," Sun said. "It's a great story, I bet you'd like it. Why don't you read some more?"

"Ah, I don't think Wren's up to listening to me drone on some dumb romance book," he chuckled nervously.

"Oh, it's not that bad. C'mon. Read to us."

Afraid she'd bully him into it, Cayde relented, taking up the book and finding his place. Wren closed her eyes when he started reading and Kiran's light dulled. He was exhausted too. Cayde glanced at him here and there as he read, then over to Wren who over time stopped shivering so badly.

It only took a few chapters for her chattering to stop and when he rested his palm on her forehead again, she wasn't nearly as hot as she had been before.

"You wanna sleep?" he asked quietly, and she nodded. She started to lay down on the couch, but he wasn't going to let her sleep there. "I got a better place for ya."

Cayde put the book away and picked Wren up to carry her into the bedroom. She draped her arms around his shoulders and didn't fight in the least when he placed her in the middle of the messy bed where she rolled over and curled up in his nest of blankets and pillows. Damn Ikora and Zavala. If they thought the lines were blurred before, this would surely bulldoze that line to nonexistence.

She was asleep before he had time to close the curtains and blow out the candle and he was so tempted to lay down beside her like that night in the cave. Wrap her up safe and warm and drive away all the bad dreams, or at least be there for her when they happened. But he had to admit, that was going too far especially when he hadn't decided what the hell to do about her.

Kiran and Sundance drifted in lazily as Cayde grabbed a pillow and blanket and lay down on the floor beside the bed. Decisions could wait. For now, he'd be here for her. Close. Afterall, she'd sought him out. Him. Not Koro. He rolled to his back and stared at the ceiling until at long last, he fell asleep.

When he did wake it was well past when he was due to meet Zavala and Ikora. He sat up to see that Wren was still asleep, tucked into a pile of blankets with her legs sticking out. Gently he touched her forehead and when he was satisfied that the fever was gone he decided to let her sleep.

A sliver of sunlight through the crack between the curtains cut across her exposed thigh and he felt compelled to let his fingertips trace the light under her skin but he had to go before someone came looking for him. He scribbled a note and left it with Kiran explaining the best times to leave without being noticed, what herbs to get for sleep, and who to send after them before he left, locking the door behind him.

With any luck he'd be able to concentrate on the day and not the image of Wren, snuggled up in his bed.