But it doesn’t feel like nothing.
Not at all.
“Adeline?”
My head snaps up at the sound of his voice. The way he says it so carefully. Socautiously.
For a second, I think he’s about to say it. That somehow, he’s figured it out. That this is the end.
But he doesn’t say anything like that.
“Did you tell Kai exactly what you just told me?” he asks me instead.
I blink. “What?”
Christian takes a slow step forward, his voice more serious now. “Did you tell Kaiexactlywhat you just told me?”
“Yes,” I say slowly, frowning. “Shouldn’t I have?”
He’s silent at first, his eyes narrowing a fraction. “When?” he asks.
I shift on my feet. “What?”
“When did you tell him?” he repeats, more serious now.
I swallow. “That day you dropped me back home.”
He closes his eyes for a moment. Just briefly. But when he opens them again, he’s suddenly guarded again. Any trace of worry, gone.
“What?” I ask, tension creeping into my voice now. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
Christian takes a breath through his nose and glances toward the house, toward the tall peaks of the estate roof in the distance. “Let’s go back,” he says instead. “It’s cold. I’ll ask Merrick to take you back to Lilia’s.”
That’s when I know something is definitely wrong.
I stop walking. “Christian.”
He keeps going, just a few steps, before turning back to face me.
“Why are you suddenly acting like this?” I ask, brow furrowing. “What happened?”
His jaw tightens. And then, with that same calm, clipped tone, he says, “Just trust me, Adeline. It’s better if you leave for now. It’s not safe for you here.”
***
Back in the room, I pack quietly.
The bag Christian gave me is on the bed, half-open, as I stuff in my old clothes. They still smell a little like the Steele house, I realize.
I move on autopilot. Fold, press, zip. My fingers snag slightly on the edge of the black jumper I wore when I was being chased. I hesitate before shoving it inside. There’s a smudge of dried blood on the sleeve. Mine.
On the nightstand, I gather the blister packs the doctor left behind. Painkillers. Antibiotics. Something else I’ve already forgotten. I toss them into a side pocket and try not to think about why I need them.
But it’s hard to focus. Because my mind’s still back there. Back with Christian, and the look on his face.
Had he really figured something out?
And what did Kai have anything to do with it?
