Piper took a spot on the corner of the bed, crossing her legs underneath herself. "Oh, sweetie," she said. "I'm sorry." She'd felt humbled when Charles had chosen to share his past with her, and she'd never told another soul.

"Same," she said, wrapping her hands around her mug, as though trying to draw out all of its warmth into herself. "There's always more blood than there actually was, whenever I have this particular one."