Sleep was finally starting to tug at him when wood groaned a few feet behind, and he knew it did so only because she willed it, to keep from startling him. The ghost leopard sat beside him, tail twitching, and met his eyes for a moment before she laid her enormous head on his thigh. In silence, they watched the stars flicker over the calm waves, Lysandra nuzzling her head against his hip. The starlight stained her coat with muted silver, and a smile ghosted Aedion’s lips.
