The creature lifted its head and peered at me with black, beady eyes, and Cain looked up.
I jumped when he threw his book down and shot to his feet, running toward me with a panicked expression—which only mademepanic. I grabbed the walking stick in both hands and wielded it like a weapon, and he stopped mid-stride.
He raised his hands in that way he did, like he wasn’t a threat. “Okay, okay, but—I mean, what are you doing? You’re gonna hurt yourself. Do you need something? Did something happen? Are you alright?” His frantic gaze flew over my body, like he was searching for something, and he reached toward me like he wanted to touch me. When I flinched away, he curled his fingers into his palm and pulled his arm back. “Sorry, I just—are you okay?”
He sounded so sincerely upset, and I didn’t know what to do with that.
Was I okay?
What did it even feel like to be okay? And why did hecare? That’s what I couldn’t wrap my head around. Why did he give a single shit how I was doing or if I was comfortable?
It had to be a trick. He was trying to get me to let down my guard. I didn’t know why, I didn’t know what he ultimately wanted, all I knew was that I wasn’t going to let him get it.
This trick was going on for far too long, and my certainty that it evenwasa trick was waning the longer I stayed here.
I glanced at the creature behind him. It was still on the couch, still watching me, but didn’t seem like it wanted to move.
Cain looked over his shoulder at it, then fixed his eyes back on mine. “It’s okay, she won’t hurt you. She just got too excited the first time. She’s never met anyone else. Not in a while, at least.” He took a step, then stopped. “Do you need something?”
I didn’t want him to know I had just been trying to escape, so I said, “Apples.”
Relief flashed through his eyes, and he laughed, then covered his face with his hands and groaned. “God, I was so worried. Apples. Of course, it’s apples.” He let his hands fall to his sides, looking so happy that it made my chest feel tight. “Are you feeling lonely? You can sit with me in here if you want. Luna won’t bother you.”
Lonely? Sit with him? I didn’t want to spend time with him.
Who was Luna? He’d named that beast?
Still…it would be good to see more of this place. Maybe he’d reveal where the exit was.
I could tolerate sitting out here with him and that thing.
Yeah. I’d watch him. Study him. Wait for my moment.
I nodded, and he smiled, then waved a hand at the couch. “Go ahead. You can sit anywhere you want. Luna, down.”
Anywhere I want.
A choice.Igot to choose.
The beast jumped down from the couch and ambled to a plush brown thing in the corner of the room. It settled down on its stomach and watched me.
“I’ll be right back.”
I kept my eyes on Cain until he disappeared, then turned to the couch. The right side dipped lower than the left, like that was where he usually sat.
I picked that side and carefully lowered myself down, leaning back against the plump cushions, sinking into the softness ofthe material. It was so warm, and I couldn’t help sinking even deeper.
This felt nice.
I ran my fingers across the arm, gliding over the velvety surface. One of the colored patches was curling at the corner, and I picked at it, then leaned down and sniffed it.
It smelled like him.
Cain walked in right when I started rubbing my cheek against it.
“It’s soft, huh?”
I sat up and didn’t answer, just lowered my gaze to the plate of sliced apples he was holding.
