"Your clothes are wet," Gabriel said without turning his head. "Take off your coat. Don't catch a cold."
"Take... take off my clothes?" Sophie's eyes widened, and her ears burned when she heard those words.
Sophie responded quietly, lowering her head to unfasten her cloak. Her flaxen hair had grown somewhat damp from the rain, with a few strands clinging to her cheeks. She stole a sidelong glance at Gabriel and found him already seated cross legged on one side of the hide mat, his eyes closed in deep concentration, seemingly regulating his breathing. His breath was steady and profound, his entire presence like a sheathed sword, quiet yet carrying an undeniable sense of presence.
Outside the tent, the rain grew heavier and heavier, the dense drumming of raindrops nearly drowning out all other sounds. Occasionally, flashes of lightning tore through the sky, penetrating the tent's fabric with a momentary white light, followed by the low rumble of rolling thunder.
