Mason left the cave feeling irritated as thoughts of Xenia flashed in his mind. He remembered finding her lying across the floor the other day as if she had decided to nap there. Then he saw the box glowing on the table and wondered if she had done something to it. He stared at her for a moment. She looked so peaceful, with her hair framing her face.

He picked her up and laid her back in bed. He pushed her hair out of her face and caressed a hand down to her cheek. She sighed and leaned into his hand. The pull of the bond was clouding his mind,...