The hallway was quiet, the late-night shadows stretching long and thin. The adrenaline that had been propping Eris up like a scaffolding began to crumble. With every step away from Caelen's room, her body became heavier, her vision narrowing to a pinprick of light.
She stumbled. Her legs simply ceased to function, her balance vanishing as the darkness claimed the edges of her mind.
Soren was there before she could even hit the floor. He swept her up into his arms, a bridal carry that felt effortless despite the exhaustion he himself wore.
"Eris!"
She didn't fight him. She didn't have the strength to protest his protectiveness or maintain her regal image. She tucked her head against the crook of his neck, her arms hanging limp.
"…tired…" she murmured, the word barely a breath.
"I know," Soren said, his voice a low, vibrating rumble in his chest. He started walking toward their private wing, his grip secure. "I've got you. Just sleep."
