---
Sekhmet stood, walked to the bed, and adjusted the blanket over Bat Bat's small body. She muttered something half asleep.
"Master sexy…"
Sekhmet stared at her for a moment. He still did not know where she learned the meaning of sexy.
He suspected Lily. He feared the truth. He returned to the chair, sat, and listened to the house for a while.
The subtle creaks.
The distant footsteps of night servants.
The faint rustle of curtains.
The small city noises beyond the window.
The hunger eased into a manageable quiet. Not gone. Never gone. But quiet enough to think.
His body felt heavier in a tired way.
His mind finally stopped sprinting.
Sekhmet removed his coat and placed it neatly on the chair. He lay down carefully, leaving space so he would not crush Bat Bat's small sleeping form.
He stared at the ceiling.
One step at a time, he reminded himself.
Then his eyes closed.
Sleep took him, not gently, but like a hand pressing his head down.
Hours passed.
