~ ELRETH ~
Elreth woke later, rolling over and reaching out to find Aaryn—but instead got a handful of cold fur.
She lifted her head, blinking and bleary-eyed. The lanterns were on, but Aaryn had turned several down so the room wasn't too bright.
She might have felt nervous wondering where he was, but as soon as she paid attention she realized what must have woken her—it was the low rumbles of her mate and brother's voices, talking in the Great Room, but barely above a whisper. They were trying not to wake her.
She wanted to feel thankful and pleased, but the hair on the back of her neck stood up.
Was Aaryn telling Gar?!
She leaped out of bed and dressed, barely buttoning her shirt, before creeping out of the room and down the tunnel to the main cave and peering carefully around the corner to find them both standing in the living area, near the fireplace, though the hearth was cold.