“She’s gone,” he whispered, sitting down beside my cot. He looked down at the collar around my neck, his eyes shifting to avoid mine. “I thought we had more time. I’m sorry.” I didn’t answer. The last thing I wanted from him was his sympathy. “It’s only until the thaw, Eelyn. Then we can find a way to get you home. Back to Aghi.” I rolled onto my back to face him. The glow from the fire pit was too low to see his eyes. “Hylli is home to both of us, Iri.” He looked away. “Fela is my home now.”
