“Kezra was right—your hearing really has gotten bad.” The ghost of a smile touches his lips, and it tugs at my chest.
“Fine.” I close my eyes.
“Now hold out your hands.”
I’m not sure if I should be scared right now, but I’m not. I completely trust him, even after all this time. After everything that’s happened.
“Anytime now,” I say as the silence stretches on.
“You look strong,” he muses, sending chills through me. I can feel him studying me now, even with my eyes closed. All I had to put on was a baggy black night dress that Rhydra lent me.
“I took up swimming,” I comment nonchalantly.
He pauses for a moment. “I heard.”
“I’m still waiting,” I say, changing the direction of the conversation.
“Okay, open,” he says as I feel something mildly heavy placed in my hands.
I open my eyes and let out a shocked, elated squeal. I look up at him in disbelief, then back at what’s in my hands.
“You got Lemakis for me?” My voice is high-pitched yet soft, and full of disbelief. I reach out a hand to stroke one of the leaves, and I swear I feel happy emotions coming from him as he seems to nuzzle against my finger.
“Snuck back into your room before I fled the castle. Had to make sure you didn’t leave anything else valuable behind.”
“You went back there for me?”
He looks at me, his gaze unwavering. “A small, stupid part of me hoped you’d be there.”
“You think that if you were imprisoned in that castle that I would have simply been sitting in my room?”
He runs his hands through his hair. “I guess not. I just… had to be sure.”
“How did you manage to get out, anyway?”
He shrugs. “Their arrogance will be their downfall. They really do underestimate others’ will to persevere.”
“Your’re not wrong,” I mumble. “Did Raef help? Rhydra?”
“Yes. Both.”
I tilt my head at him, waiting for more, but he leaves it at that. His eyes wander to my hair that’s hanging over my shoulder, already braided.
“I guess my services aren’t needed.” He gives me a morose, thin smile.
I pull at my braid, twirling it in my hand.
“I… guess not,” I say in a whisper.
His chin tucks down once, slowly, and his expression becomes neutral once again. “Have a good night then.”
“You too.”
His gaze lingers for another beat before he turns and opens the door.
“See you in the morning,” he says before shutting the door behind him.
Chapter 55
