Adriel paused, like he hadn’t realized the uncomfortable truth until that moment. “Oh.”
“Yeah,” I said awkwardly.
“I suppose with Margaret gone, there’s nothing you need protection from at this point,” Adriel murmured.
I shrugged. “I guess not.”
Adriel looked utterly defeated. I couldn’t bear to see him like this. I stood from the couch and said, “It’s okay. I’ll get to work on my own. I’ll just call a cab or something, okay?” I smiled. “You don’t need to worry anymore. Just, please, get some rest. You need it.”
For once, he didn’t have the energy to argue with me. “Fine. But at least let me make the call. I’ll arrange for the driver to pick you up at the door instead of you going all the way down the hill to the main gate.”
I kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks, Adriel.”
“Just don’t get into any trouble,” he said with a sliver of humor.
“I won’t,” I promised.
As regrettable as the situation was, I couldn’t deny that a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. No longer did I have to worry about Margaret stalking me in the shadows, waiting to kill me at any moment. I could finally be a normal person again.
Everything was going to be okay.
