d, a silent command to stand down, and gestured for

to the spot. He didn't lo

he unsaid tension of the previous encounter. Cassandra kept her eye

rolling off her. It gnawed at him. He had spent the last few hours building a fragile bridge

ed to f

asked, his English slow and

eaving behind a bone-deep exhaustion. She uncr

d, her voice flat. "I'm

prize to be hoarded in his bed. But Jefferson... Jefferson hadn't crossed those boundaries. He had physically shielded her from the staring soldiers. He had crushed the doctor's needle to keep his promise. If she was destined to be trapped in this incomprehensible

oftening slightly, "my name. You

change in topic. "Ca-san-dra," he repeated

, tired smile. "Yeah. Lik

lking and turn

pointing to her own ches

her mouth, watching the way her

ed, dragging out the

rmation. A nickname. A sign of intimacy. A privi

er eyes. "Cass-i

arper, but his voice was incredibly soft. It was a stark con

her smile widening a f

ines of his face relaxed. The corners of his mouth tw

ce. He looked younger, less

ter in her chest. She quickly looked away, sudde

ng in the shadows where they had lef

's face softened. He saw the intimacy of the exchange, an

ils bit into his thick palms. A hot, ugly surge of jealousy bu

lute protection, everything he had. A

poken a few words, and

couldn't speak her language. But he was an Alph

the end of the hall. He pressed his palm agains

Jefferson said. "

ably furnished with soft lighting and a large bed. It didn

the lingering tension finally

efferson," sh

replied, using the

owing the door to sl