As the Commander took up his rightful place at the center with Felix and Irene on either side of him, warmth spread in Irene's chest, and she couldn't help the small smile that was evident on her face. It seemed that all her worrying the day before over his health had been for naught.
His coloring looked vastly different than when she had first arrived and witnessed his ashen skin compared to its usual bronze. She could only picture getting darker from that season forward as the summer rolled in. It would cause him to look even more enticing than he did now.
Irene quickly pushed aside those thoughts, knowing that they would get her nowhere productive. He had lit an unfamiliar fire within her. The thoughts she kept having shocked even her.
Felix was the first to verbally respond to Henry as he said, "Of course, Commander. You have every right."
