Chapter 43

Ronan's POV

Mara fell asleep before we got her upstairs. One moment she was leaning against me in the hall; the next, her knees softened. I caught her under the arms. Maeve checked her pulse while I carried her to the infirmary, and by the time I laid her down, she was breathing evenly.

“Exhaustion,” Maeve said. “She has earned some.”

I stayed beside the bed long enough to count ten breaths. Then another ten. Maeve did not tell me to stop. She moved a chair closer without being asked.

When Mara opened her eyes, she found me with one hand braced on the edge of the mattress.

“You're staring,” she said.

“Checking whether you're going to sleep through dinner.”

“Is there dinner?”

“For you. Mae