After dinner, Emeric had again disappeared upstairs with another stack of documents muttering about royal disasters and never helping nobles again, leaving Austin and Alina alone downstairs.
It was almost midnight. There was no sound except for the crackling of fire. Alina sat curled at one end of the couch with a blanket around her shoulders while Austin sat beside her, his one arm stretched along the back behind her.
"You should sleep," Austin finally said breaking the silence.
Alina snickered.
"You are saying that as if you're planning to sleep yourself."
"You must be tired after such a long journey," he replied.
"And so must you. As you rode beside me."
Austin didn't argue further. He knew he would lose.
Alina then shifted on the couch and nudged his arm off the backrest, using it as a pillow for herself. Austin glanced at her, but didn't say anything. Instead, he quietly adjusted his arm so she wouldn't slip off and could sit more comfortably.
