I shook my head and leaned weakly back into the seat. "Anything will do." I hadn't done anything to justify the heaviness in my body, yet exhaustion clung to me as if it had always been there. His presence beside me felt steady, grounding in a way that reminded my instincts I wasn't alone, and that alone was enough to keep me from slipping further.
Noticing my condition, he reached over and fastened my safety belt, his movements careful, controlled, as if he was used to looking after someone within his care. "Let's go home for the meal. After eating, you should get some rest for a while." I nodded without argument, letting my eyes fall shut as the quiet hum of the car and his familiar scent settled around me, easing the tension I hadn't realized I was holding.
