Upon their return to the cottage, they shared a quiet dinner. Afterward, Eilika made her rounds, checking on Roman and the other boys. Seeing them tucked away in peaceful slumber eased some of the tension in her chest. When she finally retreated to the master bedroom, she found it empty.
"Is he planning to stay out again?" she murmured to the shadows. The exhaustion of the day finally took its toll. As she slipped beneath the heavy duvet, the warmth of the bed pulled her into a deep sleep within minutes.
When Damian eventually entered the room, the only sound was Eilika's steady breathing. He stood by the edge of the bed for a long moment.
"How long has she been forced to endure such words?" he whispered to himself.
He moved quietly to the washroom to freshen up. Stepping back out, he extinguished the lights and descended the stairs, where Maurice sat waiting in the dim glow of the hearth.
"Stay seated," Damian commanded as Maurice began to rise.
