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Kicking off the bedding, I crawled to the tent’s entrance and poked my head out.

Warden Tenn was seated on the ground with his bare back to the tent. He was positioned as if he was watching the fire, even though he’d long since put it out.

He must have heard the rustle of the leather. Or maybe those big, cute Zabrian ears picked up my breathing. Because I saw them twitch.

“Um, excuse me?” I hesitated, then, feeling as exposed as if I’d stripped naked outside the tent, I added, “Tenn?”

Just Tenn. No warden tacked on the front.

The moons and stars gave me more than enough light to see every muscle in his back draw tight at the sound of his name.

He rose and turned.

“Yes, Tasha?”

“I…”

Oh, Christ. What was I supposed to say now?

Excuse me, good sir, but I apparently cannot get comfy and fall asleep while you’re out there pulling this weird alien emo act and staring at the ashes of the fire you just put out?

“Yes?” he prodded.

“I just… You told me to tell you if… If…”

“You’re hurt? What’s wrong?”

How the hell did he do that? Close such considerable distance with what seemed to be no effort at all? In the span of a second, he was before me, his gaze white and searching.

“Does loneliness count?”

Holy Terra. I was such an idiot. This was legitimately embarrassing. He was probably going to laugh at me. Or turn that fine purple ass right around and-

“It counts, Tasha.” Hoarsely, he repeated the words. “It counts.”

I didn’t have to ask him to come in. I merely held open the flap of the tent.

And he came.

I scooted backwards into the bedroll, fighting a wave of giddiness that he was here with me.

At this point, I figured I was possibly the stupidest human who’d ever lived. To get so excited about the fact that Tenn had done something as simple as come into the tent with me.

But, damnit, I was happy.

I lay down, and Tenn lay down, too, taking the same position he had last night – on his back with his hands behind his head.

I tried to relax beside him, but now I was faced with a whole new problem. Before, I couldn’t sleep because he wasn’t here.

Now, I couldn’t sleep because he was.

“Should we talk?” I whispered. “I could ask you some questions for the book I need to write on Zabrian males. You did promise to help me, after all.”

He gave a soft rasp of a laugh.

“I promised no such thing. You decided that all on your own.”

I grinned. My blood felt oddly fizzy in my veins, like Terratribe II sparkling wine.