Then he kept walking, slower than before, like he'd felt the weight of the chamber land on him all at once.
Brooklyn dropped her arms.
She moved past Emma, grabbed a chair by the table, and carried it straight toward the door.
For a moment it looked like she was leaving.
Then she set it down right in front of the exit, lowered herself onto it, and crossed one leg over the other.
A quiet tension settled.
Bernard's mouth curved faintly. His eyes moved from one face to the next before landing on Elara.
"What's going on here?" he asked, voice even.
Elara didn't answer. She stood from the bed and crossed the space between them.
Bernard didn't step back.
Her hands went to his shirt. One button, then another. Fabric loosened as she worked her way down, calm and precise.
"Silverheart, what are you…"
Her finger pressed lightly to his lips.
He stopped.
His jaw worked once, then he let it go.
Elara kept going.
