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“And no murdering anyone while I’m asleep.”

He considers this.

“Even if they deserve it?”

“Especially if they deserve it.”

His mouth curves.

“You drive a difficult bargain.”

“Get used to it.”

I leave him in the living room and head to bed, closing my door most of the way.

For the first time in weeks, I fall asleep without checking the locks three times.

Sometime after midnight, I wake to the faint sound of movement.

I sit up.

“Vidar?”

“Yes, little flower?”

His voice comes from just outside my bedroom.

I open the door.

He’s sitting on the floor beside it, one knee bent, his enormous back resting against the wall.

The sofa is empty.

I frown.

“What are you doing?”

“Resting.”

“On the floor?”

“Yes.”

“There’s a perfectly good couch ten feet away.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you sitting here?”

He looks up at me.

Those piercing magenta eyes are softer in the darkness.

“Because if someone comes for you, they must get past me first.”

My chest tightens.

“Vidar…”