Chapter 0726

He kicks the door open when he gets there, snapping the lock and gritting his teeth when he realizes that he’ll just have to replace it. Regret fills him fully then, both for the door and his harsh thoughts towards his sister, neither of which deserved his treatment.

But he’s just so…pissed.

Rafe sighs, working hard to calm himself as he steps into the room. He looks down at his little sister in his arms, unconscious but breathing steadily, and knows he doesn’t mean any of it. That he loves her, and is devastated for her, and just wants to fix the entire world so that things can just be easy for her sake, even if it means harder for his.

“But that’s not your story, is it, trouble?” he murmurs, hefting her a bit in his arms, quite gentle, and carrying her over to her nook. There he settles her quite gently on the bed, taking a great deal of time to nestle her comfortably into the pillows and the blankets, ensuring that she has her favorite green one close by, pressed soft against her cheek. Then he lays several more warm blankets on top, tucking her in safe, terrified she’ll be cold.

When Rafe stands, trembling a bit, and stares at her, he realizes again just how tiny she is, like a little rabbit.