Kamharida had suggested, once, that if my longing for the end of our time together changed to dread, that perhaps I had my answer. And the dread was sure fucking there—but so was the longing. I missed my family, in an agonizing way. How could I make the choice Kamharida had, to leave them forever and live a new life, even if it was a life I wouldn't have had were it not for the fae? They were my family.

How could I ever look Dain in the face, and ask him to bring me home?

Dain made a small sound and shifted slightly. He yawned, making a sound like a sleepy dog, then let out a happy sigh. "Leah," he said in a contented voice. "You're not a dream, after all."

"I told you I'd stay," I said with a smile. "Comfy?"

"Very," he said. "Have I mentioned how much I enjoy being able to sprawl on you in bed?"

"You might have mentioned something about how much you liked being wrapped around me while you were getting better," I replied, amused. "Something about being afraid I'd get annoyed, but helpless to resist."

"This is better," Dain said, sounding totally content. "Not only do I not feel awful, but it feels like the only reason you're tolerating my physical clinginess is that you're fond of me, and not because of feeling badly for me." He tangled the fingers of his wing-arm in my hair, rubbing his knuckles against my scalp in a delightful way. "It's very enjoyable."

"Hardly tolerance," I said in a drawl. "I'm delighted by the physical clinginess."

"Are you?" He sounded hopeful, and turned his head like he was looking at me. "It's not too much?"

Laughing, I freed one of my hands so I could scrummel his hair. "Of course not," I said. "I enjoy cuddling, and I especially enjoy cuddling you."

"Oh." The sound was soft, and a little surprised. Dain shifted his head under my hand to direct me to a better spot. "I'm glad of that."

I obliged him, and rubbed at his scalp, using my nails in the way he liked.

Dain made a very happy sound, the movement of his wing-hand in my hair slowing to a halt as he focused on getting his head scratched.

"Don't even have to put your head in my lap to get petted," I said teasingly.

"Ohhh," he said, as I hit a good spot. "I'm a very... lucky... wolf," Dain got out, between little sounds of pleasure. "Oh, that feels good."

I grinned as I really went at it for him, looking up at the painted plants on the ceiling, each panel with a different type of flower as a centerpiece. I was willing to bet Dain had chosen them all. Maybe I'd get him to tell me about them sometime. "You're easy to please."

"For you, maybe," he said with a little laugh. "Other people, oh! Might disagree."