Chapter 61

onan's POV

Mara woke with her face against my shoulder and a fistful of the blanket she'd said she didn't want. I waited while the first light moved over her hair. People downstairs needed us, and for once none of them were pounding on the door.

“You are staring,” she said without opening her eyes.

“I'm checking whether you intend to give back my blanket.”

“You can file a complaint.”

“I have been trying for weeks.”

She laughed, then sat up and pressed her hand to the old scar over my heart. The House's faint pull remained, seven days narrowing toward six. It had not reached into our sleep. Mara kissed the place once and got out of bed before I could persuade her to stay.

Downstairs, Martha's granddaughter was laying out