Afternoon was melting into dusk, and the faint orange light of the setting sun was bathing the world in a dim, sable haze. Anise had shuffled out of the room at some point to get to work in the apothecary, and Reign had reclaimed his seat next to Effie's bedside again, promising to look after her as she slept. However, it was not Effie who did the sleeping this time.
Reign's heavy eyes, ringed with exhaustion from staying up with Effie for almost two days straight, were unable to keep themselves open any longer. Soon, they had fall down over his golden eyes, his fluttering lashes coming to rest against the peaks of his alabaster cheekbones. Long legs crossed, arms resting in his lap, Reign sat upright in the chair but was already sound asleep.
