Gerald stood at the entrance of the pool with that insufferable look on his face—mischievous and self-satisfied, like he'd caught her doing something embarrassing. Which, technically, he had.
Lyralei stared up at him, ready to say something cutting.
Then she actually looked at him and frowned.
The cockiness was there, yes, but underneath it he looked absolutely wrecked. Dark circles carved deep beneath his red eyes. The lines of his face pulled tight with the kind of exhaustion that didn't come from one missed night but from hours of carrying something heavy without putting it down. He'd been out dealing with the aftermath all night, hadn't slept at all, and here he was standing in front of her trying to look unbothered about it.
She rolled her eyes instead of rising to his bait. "Are
