He glances at me for a moment, then looks ahead, a far-off look in his gaze. “Warmer. In every sense of the word.”
“Describe it to me,” I say, suddenly feeling like I want to know everything there is to know about their home.
He releases a long sigh before answering. “Well, the building styles, for starters. Ours are more… open. And our lighting is better. And our walls are made with swirling whites and golds. It’s… bright. There’s enough darkness outside.”
“So you think it’s dark and depressing here?” It’s a bit ironic coming from him.
He quirks an eyebrow at me, not missing my teasing. “Yes.” He pauses for a moment, lost in thought. He must really miss home, but he stays here anyway, determined to find answers. “It’s warmer too. In Torrynth. The air feels… better.”
I eye his outfit. He’s in all black again, his short-sleeved shirt covered in straps and pockets. “You don’t look like you’re cold.”
“Our blood runs warmer,” he replies simply. “But I still notice the difference.”
“But you’re always dressed in black...”
He side-eyes me, a hint of a grin dancing on his lips. It’s hard to tear my gaze away. “That’s different.”
“How?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. More intimidating, maybe.” His mouth quirks. I think he’s making a joke. Possibly.
I chuckle a little and he glances at me, his expression unreadable.
A stretch of silence falls between us again, and suddenly I notice how slow and unhurried our pace is. “I’ve seen so much of the world in my books, from both before and after the curse, yet I still feel like I’ve seen so little of it,” I admit as we walk side-by-side.
His eyes search mine, curious, as if he’s still not sure what to make of me. He doesn’t respond.
I don’t even realize until we’re directly in front of my door that our journey has ended.
“Well… thank you.”
He nods, looking at me unsmiling once more. “See you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow.” I smile with my mouth closed and his eyes fall to my lips. I turn and open my door, then look back over my shoulder one last time as I step inside. He remains planted just outside my doorway, watching me as I shut it.
I take a deep breath as I stand in the silence of my room, staring at the door. I close my eyes and shake my head. When I open them again, the fatigue truly sets in, and I remove my cloak and shoes and fall into bed, where sleep takes me quicker than that spider-plant nearly killed Raef.
Chapter 21
“Where do you have to go that’s so important?”
Meela is grilling me over breakfast. Today I decided to eat in the main dining hall, where anyone who lives or works in the castle is welcome to dine for any meal.
“The library, of course.”
She rolls her eyes so hard it must hurt. “What would you do with yourself if we didn’t have that place?”
That’s a harrowing thought. “I’m not too sure.”
“Well, I’m coming with you.”
My head snaps up from my meal. “What? Why? You rarely step foot in there.”
She eyes me suspiciously. Shit. “You’ve been… strange lately.”
“Youhave been strange lately,” I shoot back teasingly, trying to distract her.
She laughs. “No. I’ve been my same old miserable self.”
