Chapter 62: Small Bonding
Nox’s eyes snapped open to the darkness of the forest, the dream still clinging to him. The old anger churned in his gut, thick and familiar.
"Damn it all," he cursed, his voice a low growl that was swallowed by the night. He pushed himself into a sitting position, his muscles protesting with a constant ache. The fire had burned down to a small pile of embers that gave off a faint red light.
His gaze fell on Serian. She sat on the other side of the fire, her back against a tree, her sword resting across her lap. Her head kept nodding forward before she would jerk it back up, her body fighting a losing battle with sleep.
’She’s going to fall over,’ he thought. ’She’s no good to me half-asleep.’
He stood up, his boots making a soft sound on the dead leaves. He walked around the fire and stopped in front of her. She didn’t seem to notice him until he was right there.
"Go to sleep," he said, his voice quiet but firm.
She jolted, her eyes flying open, her hand tightening on her sword. For a second, she looked ready for a fight, then her eyes focused on him. "I’m fine," she insisted, but her voice was rough with sleep. "My watch is not over."
He just shook his head, unimpressed by her attempt to sound awake. "You look like you’re about to pass out," he told her flatly. "You’re a liability like that, not a guard."
Her jaw tightened, and she looked like she was about to argue, but the fight just wasn’t in her. She let out a small sigh, the tension leaving her shoulders. "I’m... more tired than I thought."