Hermi's heart nearly leapt from her chest. Even though she knew Grim remained invisible to mortal eyes, the sight of it hovering so vibrantly in her own field of vision made the deception feel precarious.
Her gaze darted nervously toward the flying book, which bobbed silently near the bedpost, and then snapped back to Cassian. When he offered no reaction to the glowing tome, a wave of relief surged through her.
"I was merely talking to myself," she said, her voice hardening into a frigid tone. "Why have you returned? Did I not make it plain that I wished to rest alone?"
Cassian did not seem satisfied with her pretext. He likely knew her well enough by now to know she possessed no habit of solitary chatter, yet he kept his suspicions sequestered behind a stoic mask as he crossed the room.
