21
Archie slid the blanket over them as gently as he could and turned off the light, wincing at the loud click from the reading lamp’s light switch. But neither of them stirred.
By the moonlight coming in the portholes, he watched the two of them curled together. Closer than any mother and daughter would sleep. The same way they’d slept on the helicopter, where he’d watched them for hours in the dawn light.
Dilya curled with her back against Kee. Kee’s arm draped protectively about the girl’s waist, her chin touching the top of Dilya’s dark hair. Kee’s anomalous blonde streak catching the light in her dark brown hair. He wanted to play with that streak of hair, separate it out until every single strand of light had been sorted from the dark.
Part of him wanted to wish Dilya anywhere el
