Zera returned from putting Zion to bed as she had promised to and found Aaron seated quietly in bed, facing the other side and deep in thought. She didn't step away from the door, and neither did she let him know she was watching him. She stayed that way for a while. Whatever he thought about had left him so lost in thought that he didn't even notice her presence.

After a few minutes of silence, she stepped further into the room. "What are you thinking about?"

He snapped out of ...