"She's finally asleep," a familiar voice says from the doorway, wrapping me in the warmth of its presence. Thorne.
"Your eyes are swollen," he murmurs as he steps inside and sits beside me on the bed. His thumb gently brushes beneath my left eye, the warmth of his touch soothing the raw, tender skin.
"I'll apply some ointment later to bring down the swelling," I reply, my voice soft and exhausted.
"Eventful day, huh?" he says, cupping my cheek with his hand. I lean into the warmth of his palm, finding comfort in the simple gesture.
"Yeah," I exhale. "You owe Leona a raise. Apparently, finding her was nearly impossible. She never expected anyone to track her down."
He chuckles softly, the sound deep and familiar. "Well, she is the best at what she does. Even I don't know how she manages it."
