Morningside Cuesta isn't hope an animal?

She felt against him like a bucket of cold water, shocking him to his core with the intensity of his surprise. He wheeled back an inch or two, half-expecting her to turn teeth against him, but her body was tender against his, lacking any sign of aggression. All at once, he knew it. This is a shadow of the little girl I knew. And he mourned for that girl even as he rejoiced in her embrace, and Grayday was all at once disappointed and in love with the creature laid against his side.

He didn't deserve this, he knew. He didn't deserve to be the one to comfort her when he was the one who'd broken her down, brought her all this pain. He didn't deserve this, but he revelled in it, and had the gall to feel gratitude toward whatever forced had decided to make him her only safehold in this mess. (Later on, he would see that he was that force, and he would wonder at all the terrible things he'd done in the name of love.)

For a moment he simply stood there, allowing Adeline to shelter against him, but soon enough, words he should have spoken long ago bubbled up from his throat.

"I'm so sorry, greeneyes," he sighed, resting his chin against the back of her neck.