For a split second, relief flares. He’s here. He answered. “She’s… healed.”
And I still don’t quite understand how. I sat there for hours and watched Lyra work, watched her eyes flicker and her hands move over Sera’s injuries, watched the way her skin stitched back together, and I still don’t understand how it was possible when it should have been impossible. “She wants to see Lyra.”
“Not tonight,” he says quietly. “She’s exhausted.”
“Right.” I swallow. “I… I want to take her to meet Jace.”
His body stills.
“I won’t, not without your permission.” I hold his gaze, waiting. “What do you think?”
Awkward in the silence that follows, in the stiffness of his body, I let my eyes shift away from his face. To the bed behind him.
She’s asleep, curled on her side beneath the covers, pale hair fanned across his pillow. Lyra looks so much more fragile when she’s sleeping.
Something inside me goes cold and hollow all at once.
“I think that would be fine,” he says finally. Carefully. “She should know.”
Good. That’s… good, that they have each other. And he’s… taking care of her. “Oh,” I say, because my mind offers nothing else. Nothing but a cold, icy wave of hurt.
He skipped me. I was right here, and he went to Lyra. I was right here, and she went to him. I should be used to it by now. To not being chosen. But it still fucking hurts.
Kaelen’s brow furrows. “Dare?”
My mouth twists into something sharp and ugly before I can stop it. “Why is Lyra in your bed?”
Kaelen stiffens. “That’s none of your business.”
I’m so tired. I’m tired of the fighting, and the arguments. The looks, and the pain. I’m so fucking tired of the pain.
My laugh is short and brittle. “Of course it’s not. You’re right.”
Kaelen steps into the doorway, casually blocking my view of her as if he’sshieldingher from me. That hurts more than seeing her did. “It’s not what you think.”
“Isn’t it?” My chest aches, breath coming too fast. “Because it looks very clear to me.”
I back away. “Look. I’m glad. Happy that you’ve…I don’t know. Moved on. Maybe I’ll do the same.”
His jaw tightens. I can see the strain in him now, the edges fraying. “There’s nothing tomove onfrom.”
The words hit me like a blade.Nothing.
I stare at him, truly stare, searching for the hesitation, the regret. There’s anger there—too much of it. Heat. Fear, maybe. But the words stand.
“I see,” I whisper. “Well, then.”
His face changes instantly. “That’s not what I meant.”
“No.” I hold up my hands, as if I can stop him talking. “I understand. No need to say any more, Kae.”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” he says quickly, stepping forward. “Darian, wait. I shouldn’t have snapped—”
But something in me finally gives way.
“I can’t do this anymore,” I croak. “I can’t keep coming back for more every time you push me away, Kaelen.”
He reaches for me. I step back. “I came here because I thought—” My throat closes. I swallow hard. “I thought maybe something had changed. But I was wrong. Or… right, I suppose.”
