‘I need a moment,’ he rasped, as Thea hovered close by. She moved away, letting him breathe. He stayed there, leaning on the chest of drawers, inhaling and exhaling, trying not to collapse as his knees trembled under his weight. Thea was there again. He made to pull away. ‘I said —’ ‘You said a moment, and I gave you one,’ she told him firmly. She pointed to the door. ‘Out there, you can have your armour on as much as you need, but in here with me? We are equals. It was you who told me, what hurts you, hurts me. You told me we’ll take it on together.’
