I swallowed and nodded once. Slowly. Then silence stretched between us.
“How cruel fate is. I know who you are,” he continued, his voice even. “I know what you are to me.” His jaw tightened as he held my gaze. “But you don’t.”
“I’m… sorry.” I didn’t know what else to say. And I genuinelywassorry.
His gaze shifted to the floor for a beat then met mine again with a caution that looked unbecoming of him. “It’s foolish.” He sighed. “I knew this moment was coming, but I never thought about this part. The part where you’d look at me and not… know me.”
He sounded like he was mourning me, although I was standing right here.
“I’m different.”
“Yet you still kissed me.”
My heart stopped.
The words hung between us, and I couldn't breathe, couldn't think past the rush of blood in my ears, couldn’t stop myself from feeling he’d just stripped me bare.
His eyes searched my face, reading every flicker of panic I couldn't hide.
"I—" The word caught in my throat. What could I possibly say? That I hadn't meant it? That would be a lie. That I didn't understand why I'd done it? Also a lie.
"You caught me by surprise," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I didn't know what I was doing. I didn't know what to do with... with you."
His expression didn't change. "And yet you did it anyway."His gaze held me captive. "Even without your memories, you're still you, Ziyka."
My heart clenched. "But I’m not. What is a person without their memories?"
“Still the same person.” His lips twitched for the faintest smile. But it was one without humor. “The mind is not the only thing with a memory. The heart remembers, too.”
Heart.
There were quotes I’d recorded about him saying my heart would remember.
Maybe it had. Maybe that was why I felt his mark tugging in my chest. But how did I explain that the only thing inside me was hollowness?
“I’ve been told that you have to go back to Stormfell.” He lifted his chin, and just like that, he changed the subject.
“Yes. I have to go back. My family need me.”
“Because of Thayden?” The muscle in his jaw jumped, just once before he mastered it, but there was no masking the fury in his eyes.
“He’s threatening them.”
“I know.” His gaze sharpened, something dark flickering beneath the surface. “The guys explained the stakes.”
I hesitated, then said, “I don’t know what else to do. And I can’t put my family at risk. I won’t.” I tried to imbue my voice with certainty, letting him know that was non-negotiable.
Something unreadable crossed his face. Not anger. Something deeper. I thought he was going to argue, but all he said was, “I understand.”
I gazed up at him, my gaze locked with his as I waited for him to say something more.
Nothing came.
I didn’t know what I was expecting, but I had to admit I felt…
Slightly…disappointed.
Disappointed he’d agree to let me go so easily.
