"I'd be surprised if you weren't," Alek says with an easy grin, opening the door for her once he's reached the back entrance that leads straight to the kitchen. He's gotten so used to Cora being here that he can't imagine the place without her now. It's dangerous to think like that, considering how fond the rift is of making people disappear, but he doesn't linger on that train of thought.

"Does the running help?"