She didn't answer right away. Her gaze lifted slowly until it met his.
"Bernard, is that true?" she asked softly.
Bernard kept wiping the table, a faint smile tugging at his mouth like he wasn't interested in getting dragged in.
"He's the interior administrator," Brandon said. "Who's going to handle the house?"
"He'll lock it up," she said, already folding the list.
"Lock our house up how?" Brandon tilted his head, eyes narrowing slightly.
"I mean…" she hesitated, fingers picking at the edge of her sleeve. "Another wolf could replace him until we come back."
Brandon leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping once against the armrest, then stopping.
"Alright," he said at last, leaning back again.
"Bernard, you're coming with us," she said.
Her eyes stayed on him a second longer.
The corner of his mouth twitched. He tried to hide it, but it stayed there anyway.
He gathered the used plates without a word and slipped out of the feeding chamber.
