“So if we send her back to the outpost,” Dorian speaks up from the hallway, “and you stay here…”
“She would ail.” K’s voice is flat. Matter-of-fact. “The injuries I have been suppressing would resurface. She could die.”
Could die.
The room suddenly feels very small.
Very cold.
Caleb exhales slowly. Runs a hand through his hair. “Fuck.”
“Indeed.”
“So you’re saying she has to stay within—what? The same building? The same room?”
“I do not know.” K’s frustration bleeds through. “This is not… I did not plan this. I simply kept her alive. The bond formed as a consequence. I do not know its limitations.”
As a consequence.
Right.
I’m a consequence. An unintended side effect of his heroic life-saving skills.
How romantic.
“Fine.” Caleb’s voice shifts into CEO mode yet again. Pragmatic. Efficient. “She stays here. Under guard. You deal with Vex in the lower level. That should be close enough, yes?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Viktor will want a full debrief. We need to understand—”
“Later.” K’s voice hardens. “First, I need to ensure she is stable. Fed. Rested.”
“Of course.” Caleb nods. “Dorian and I will start the interrogation. Join us as soon as you can.”
He leaves. Dorian follows, but not before throwing me a look that’s equal parts sympathy and concern.
The door clicks shut, leaving us alone in here.
K and me and the terrible weight of everything unsaid.
He moves closer. Stops just out of arm’s reach.
“I am sorry,” he says.
“Sorry?” The word comes out sharp. Bitter. “For what? Saving my life? Creating some kind of magical tether so I don’t die? Yeah, that’s really something to apologize for.”
“For binding you to me without your consent.” His voice is steady. Careful. Like he’s handling something fragile. “For making you dependent on something you did not choose. For—”He stops. Searches for words. “For complicating your life in ways I cannot undo.”
Complicating my life.
That’s one way to put it.
“As opposed to dying?” I force a laugh. It sounds hollow. “Yeah, you’re right, dying would’ve been way better for my autonomy.”
“Mara—”
“Don’t.” I hold up a hand. “Just… don’t. I get it. You feel guilty. You feel responsible. Poor little human nearly died and you had to save her and now you’re stuck babysitting me until… what? Until the bond fades? Until I’m healed enough to survive on my own?”
