Chapter 48: Welcome Home

"Do you want to move to the bed?"

My eyes, which had been drifting shut, sprang open at Valen's question. After we'd had dinner, Valen had said he needed to check on a few things and had gone off to the open living room on a computer after suggesting I ‘rest a bit’.

I'd rolled my eyes in exasperation—after he'd turned his back, of course—and opted to read one of the novels I'd found on the tiny bookshelf in the room. I stayed there for almost an hour, but eventually, my attention to the story waned and I shut the book.

I had thought Valen was deeply focused on whatever he was doing, but the moment I rose from the bed, he lifted his eyes to me with a concerned frown between his brows.

“You need anything, Angel?” he’d questioned. I’d ignored the leap my heart took in my chest at how sweet he was being and walked over to him before settling myself on the floor at his feet.