Kieran
She falls asleep in the middle of us, like a flame burning out… A reluctant, still warm ember even as the light fades.
It’s not a clean burnout or a sudden loss of heat. It happens in stages; first her breathing slows, then her fingers loosen where they’re curled around my wrist. The tension finally bleeds out of her as if she’s been holding it together with spite alone.
The bed is warm. Too warm, maybe. We’re not used to having this many bodies in one place, but she doesn’t pull away. She simply sinks deeper into us, one leg tangling with mine, her forehead pressing into my shoulder as if she’s claiming the space by instinct.
We don’t move.
Jace is on her other side, propped on one elbow, as he studies her face like she might disappear if he blinks too many times. His hand rests at her waist, barely touching, but it’s enough to feel her breathing… Like he’s afraid to ask for more touch now that she’s finally resting.
Silas stands near the foot of the bed, quiet as a shadow, eyes sharp even as his expression relaxes. He’s been like this since we got back, present but already lost in data and metrics, running scenarios with minimal probability.
“She’s out,” Jace murmurs around a yawn.
“Yeah.” Silas nods toward the door, mouth moving as if he has more to say.
Eris shifts, making a small sound in her throat, and my arm tightens around her without thinking. She settles her cheek against my chest, like my warmth reminds her she’s not alone anymore.
Silas sighs and shakes his head. “I’m going to get some work done.”
“Now?” Jace glances at the window and back at him. “When was the last time you slept?”
“Yeah,” he says with a small smile. “I’ll keep an eye on everything.”
Silas doesn’t say what we’re all thinking. Not that he really needs to.
“It’s okay. You can go.” I nod my head toward the door, mimicking his earlier gesture. “We’ll be here.”
His gaze drops to Eris, and it’s such an odd thing to witness… The way his eyes soften, just for a second. His expression hardens again as he turns away from us, the way it always does when he steps back into motion.
“If she stirs, come get me,” he tells us as he opens the door.
Jace huffs quietly. “You’re seriously not sleeping?”
“Not yet. I'll let you take a nap first.”
Silas leaves without another word, the door closing softly behind him. It plunges us into a moment of silence as the room settles.
Eris stirs, lashes fluttering as her eyes crack open just enough to find me staring down at her.
“Kieran?” she whispers, voice rough with sleep.
“I’m here.”
Her unfocused gaze drifts until she peers over her shoulder to see Jace, and her lips curve in a faint smile. “Did I fall asleep?”
“Yeah,” he says gently. “You did. Go back to sleep.”
She gives him a satisfied hum before resting her cheek back against my chest. “Don’t go.”
My throat tightens at her words, and I almost take too long to reply. “We’re not.”
Jace slides under the covers properly, his legs pressing her further into me.
“We’ll nap,” he wryly adds, yawning again. “Someone’s got to.”
Eris smiles, unguarded and warm. She doesn’t even open her eyes as she sleepily murmurs, “My thinking too.”
Her breathing evens out a minute later, like she was barely holding onto consciousness.
The bed creaks softly as we adjust around her, finding the shape that fits without waking her up. Jace settles in on her other side, one arm draping loosely over her hip. I press my chin to the crown of her head, breathing her in.
We don’t talk.
We just stay…
And when sleep finally pulls at the edges of my mind, it doesn’t feel like losing vigilance.
It feels like choosing to dream of exactly where I am.