Chapter 54
The cold moisture of the single tear on my cheek is slowly drying. I won’t wipe it. I know she’d be mad at me for crying over her, but I don’t care. She can get over that, wherever she is.
I was almost tempted to sneak out of my room to grab a drink once I felt all the heavy feelings creeping back in, but I resisted. Instead, I’m lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling, letting the single tear fall. Somehow, the one tear felt like it carried the weight of a hundred.
I’m excited that we’ve found the next relic, I really am.
I want to break through that stupid fucking veil more than ever before, but being together with the group again, plotting and planning without Meela, feels bittersweet.
By the time I got back to my room and realized I was all alone once again, the negative feelings took over. I couldn’t help it.
I finally wipe at the last bit of moisture left as I turn my head at the sound of a knock.
“Who is it?” I call out weakly.
“It’s the hair-braiding service.”
My stomach flips.
Did I hear that right? I jump up, look in the mirror and wipe under my eyes even though there’s nothing there, and grab the rusty door handle.
Then I freeze. It’s been so tense between us, the last thing I expected was for him to come knocking on my door.
I thought he hated me now, after he saw me with Adrian, after what my father did, after I sat in my tower helpless…
I take a deep breath and open the door.
I immediately lock on to his deep blue eyes, which seem so much darker, yet somehow exactly the same.
A tense moment filled with a million unspoken words hangs between us as we look at each other in silence. Finally, he breaks it by clearing his throat. “May I come in?”
I look him over and realize his hands are resting behind his back. Like he’s holding something, perhaps.
“Are you going to hold a knife to my throat again?”
He lifts a single eyebrow, then his lip curls back as he takes in my smile. His small shard of black emberstone is still there. I wonder how he managed to hold onto it the whole year he was held captive. “Never. I promise.”
My smile fades at those words. “We haven’t been very good at those,” I mutter, averting my gaze as I let him in the room.
I look back when I realized he hasn’t moved.
His face looks… hurt. His jaw twitches like he wants to say something, but then he looks away and steps into the room, clearing his throat again. He faces me, his large, tall frame taking up a huge portion of this small room, and I move my head to try to peek behind his back.
“What is it?” I ask, moving past the tension I created.
“Close your eyes.”
“What?”
“Kezra was right—your hearing really has gotten bad.” The ghost of a smile touches his lips, and it tugs at my chest.
“Fine.” I close my eyes.
“Now hold out your hands.”
I’m not sure if I should be scared right now, but I’m not. I completely trust him, even after all this time. After everything that’s happened.
“Anytime now,” I say as the silence stretches on.
“You look strong,” he muses, sending chills through me. I can feel him studying me now, even with my eyes closed. All I had to put on was a baggy black night dress that Rhydra lent me.
“I took up swimming,” I comment nonchalantly.
He pauses for a moment. “I heard.”
“I’m still waiting,” I say, changing the direction of the conversation.
“Okay, open,” he says as I feel something mildly heavy placed in my hands.
I open my eyes and let out a shocked, elated squeal. I look up at him in disbelief, then back at what’s in my hands.
“You got Lemakis for me?” My voice is high-pitched yet soft, and full of disbelief. I reach out a hand to stroke one of the leaves, and I swear I feel happy emotions coming from him as he seems to nuzzle against my finger.
“Snuck back into your room before I fled the castle. Had to make sure you didn’t leave anything else valuable behind.”
“You went back there for me?”
He looks at me, his gaze unwavering. “A small, stupid part of me hoped you’d be there.”
“You think that if you were imprisoned in that castle that I would have simply been sitting in my room?”
He runs his hands through his hair. “I guess not. I just… had to be sure.”
“How did you manage to get out, anyway?”
He shrugs. “Their arrogance will be their downfall. They really do underestimate others’ will to persevere.”
“Your’re not wrong,” I mumble. “Did Raef help? Rhydra?”
“Yes. Both.”
I tilt my head at him, waiting for more, but he leaves it at that. His eyes wander to my hair that’s hanging over my shoulder, already braided.
“I guess my services aren’t needed.” He gives me a morose, thin smile.
I pull at my braid, twirling it in my hand.
“I… guess not,” I say in a whisper.
His chin tucks down once, slowly, and his expression becomes neutral once again. “Have a good night then.”
“You too.”
His gaze lingers for another beat before he turns and opens the door.
“See you in the morning,” he says before shutting the door behind him.