“I know. I just… never mind.” I stand and gather my things, my mind occupied with this new information. They all follow me out, and I take off toward my quarters without glancing back.
“Elysande.” I don’t make it halfway down the hall before I hear my name being called. Jolted from my stupor, I turn to find Daegan chasing after me.
“Yes?”
“I’ll walk you.”
“That’s not necessary. The night isn’t even late.”
“Come on,” he says, ignoring me, grabbing my satchel off my shoulder and taking off toward my room, which he already knows the route to with his eyes closed, I’m sure.
I remain frozen, trying to process.
He glances back, halts, and motions with his hand. “Let’s go, princess.”
I finally move my feet, catching up to him as he turns.
“Thanks,” I say, glancing at my bag on his shoulder.
He side-eyes me… and grins. It’s not a full-on smile, but the light touches his eyes and the sight of it makes me forget where I’m going. Forget everything.
I look away, attempting to compose myself. “You’re in a good mood,” I mutter.
“How can I not be. I’ve been waiting years for this kind of breakthrough,” he says quietly.
“You weren’t this excited when I told you… the first pieces.”
“I was.”
“You were just hiding it then?”
He shrugs, a mischievous look on his face.
“Because you didn’t trust me?”
“I do now,” he says, and the intensity in his gaze tells me he means it. I think. “I’m sorry for our fight in the dungeons. I won’t doubt your intentions again, Elysande.” My name drips from his full lips, slow and lethal.
I swallow, struggling to come up with a response. So I don’t. We walk the rest of the way in silence.
Eventually, he stops and faces me. Somehow, we’re already in front of my door.
He pulls my bag from his shoulder and holds it out for me. I take it, still transfixed by this new Daegan. Or is this the old Daegan that I’m finally getting acquainted with?
“I’ll see you at the festivities later?”
“I’m not really one for parties,” he says.
And then a cold realization washes over me. There’s still a female here with him who he apparently gets… intimate with. The thought makes me sick to my stomach.
“That’s right. You still have your… friend you need to spend some time with.”
I want to kick myself. Why would I say such a stupid thing? It takes everything in me not to wince at my words.
His eyebrows pinch together, and before he can answer, I speak again. “I’m sorry,” I say, shaking my head. “That’s none of my business.”
There’s a ghost of a grin there, but I’m too embarrassed to look for long. I turn and open my door, then look back one last time. His tall silhouette remains planted there, filling up my doorway. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
I shut the door before he has a chance to answer.
