It’s a risk, a huge one, but I very slowly reach over to take Nox’s hand in mine. I’m expecting him to pull away or shake me off, something subtle enough not to upset North’s vision of us all being seen as a united front, but harsh nonetheless. His fingers are warm and tight around my own. I’m not stupid enough to think that it means something, that he’ll suddenly change his mind about me, but it feels like a tiny victory anyway.
