“He’s safe, Lars,” I try, though verbal assurance is not my strength. “They’re being cautious—I promise. He’ll be here any second.”
Lars’ eyes flash with alarm, then not even a second later, a blanket of fear envelops him.
I slip off the bed and creep across the carpet, only to reach for him when a specific knock comes from the other side of the door. Lars’ demeanor shifts as purple mist floats in to turn the lock, with his grin widening the moment Malin, Cirrin, Fray, and Varic stride in.
Lars steps back while Varic closes the door behind him, gingerly turning the lock before pressing his ear to the seam.
Malin nods at Lars, then lowers his mask, allowing it to pool around his neck.
Fray moves to the window, while Cirrin comes to stand near me as each of them removes their masks to store within their leathers, awaiting further instruction with solemn expressions.
Lars practically shakes, while Malin pales enough to be noticeable in the dim light of the moon.
“Will you two stop being cagey and hug already?” I cast my gaze from Lars to Malin.
Then the rest of us gape over at them when Malin is the first to take action—closing the distance for Lars to pull him into a tight embrace. Whispers pass between them, and my heart squeezes when a small sob leaks from Lars’ chest as he tightens his grip around Malin.
I avert my eyes to give them the same privacy they’ve given me while straining my hearing to keep from deciphering any of their words. My body screams with the need to seek a bathing chamber, and I tread forward, making a giant arc around the Guards who hold each other on my way toward the door I assume to be what I seek.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Varic rasps, with his apparent attempt at playfulness coming out coarser than intended.
“To the bathing chamber. Care to join?”
He nods, and my cheeks heat, not knowing what I was expecting, though my own attempt at matching his with playful banter clearly didn’t land the way I meant it to either.
My hands shake when I readjust my skirts before exiting the water closet, only to clench them into fists with the difficulty of sharing this small space the moment Varic and I make eye contact. His eyes cast down where he remains by the door, and I approach the sink.
“I’m sorry for?—”
“No,” I cut him off, shutting off the faucet and grabbing a blue hand towel.
“Tasch, please?—”
“No.”
His shoulders drop before he rakes his hand through his hair, his gaze still trained on the floor as I stride forward, eliciting a gasp once he notices how close I have come.
“You had every right to be angry and defend me. I do not accept your apology, because if you are sorry for the way you reacted—then you were lying about your feelings for me.”
He stares back with raised brows and something else swirling behind his irises.
“You once told me I was wrong,” I say, and he laughs. “And you were right.”
Newfound understanding flickers across his eyes, while my own narrow in mock admonishment. “And now I get to turn your message back on you, because this time you are wrong. You are not sorry, and you needed to expel the fury you felt when he flew away with me. Then you needed to act in my defense once he brought me back.”
He shakes his head with a grin forming.
I step closer and lift my chin in challenge. “Admit it. Admit I am right this time.”
A smile breaks across his face as he shakes his head. “Fine. You are right, Tasch.” Narrowing his eyes, he adds, “This time.”
“Thank you for acknowledging,” I say, heart squeezing. “Now, let’s try to determine how we can survive the night.”
I turn toward the door, which he rushes to open, smiling as he gestures for me to go first in a moment which almost feels normal despite the circumstances.
Fray’s voice carries as we near my Guards, who all huddle together. “I can do it.”
“Do what?” I ask while Varic moves closer to the door, maintaining his shield over me, equally comforting as it is protective.
