Measured Words

Sleepless

Aleyn wasn't in his own room, nor was he in Vedran's or Ardith's. He hadn't fallen asleep in any of the kids' room, which left his lab.

It took him a few minutes to answer their knocking, and he emerged looking wide eyed and alert.

"It's after midnight," Ardith said.

"I know – I was testing something, and it's got me too wired to sleep."

She nodded. "We'd been hoping you would come to bed."

"With both of you?"

Vedran smiled, taking his hand. "You're the one who's always saying that there are better ways to spend sleepless nights than working."