Elara POV
The moment the door closed, Mira forced her way inside behind us.
"No," she said, planting herself at my side. "If she's sleeping in here, I'm sleeping in here too."
"Mira—" I started.
"No." She crossed her arms, jaw tight. "I'm not letting either of you lock a door behind my back tonight. I'm not stupid."
Theron didn't flinch. "No one called you stupid."
"You didn't have to," she snapped. "I can see the way you're both breathing."
Heat crawled up my neck. I hated that she was right. My pulse was too loud, too quick. I hadn't even stepped far into the room yet.
Theron exhaled slowly. "Mira, she needs rest. Real rest. Not you hovering over her shoulder like a guard dog."
"I am a guard dog," she shot back.
"And you're exhausted," he said. "Your hands are shaking."
"They're always shaking around you," she muttered.
Theron stepped closer—not threatening, just steady. "You love her. That makes your judgment too sharp. Too afraid."
