Page 230 of Scarbound

“Promise?”

Duri hesitated. Not because he intended to break it. Because he had learned not to promise things he could not control. “I’ll do everything I can to make sure you don’t.”

Noeul stared at him.

Duri lifted the handcuff key. “I have the key. I can unlock your wrist.”

Noeul’s eyes locked onto it. “No.”

Duri lowered his hand immediately. “Okay.”

Noeul looked from the key to Duri, then toward his own wrist. The skin around the cuff was swollen and raw. His expression changed. He tugged once and winced.

Duri waited.

Noeul looked at him again. “You?”

“Yes.”

“You’ll…”

His thoughts seemed to disappear halfway through the sentence. Duri didn’t complete it for him. He waited.

Noeul swallowed. “Take it off.”

Duri’s breath caught. “Can I come closer?”

Noeul hesitated, long enough that Duri thought he might change his mind. Then he gave the smallest nod.

Duri stood slowly. “One step.”

Noeul watched him.

Duri took one. “Still okay?”

Another faint nod.

He moved closer, then stopped again. Noeul’s entire body was tense now. Duri could see the fight happening inside him.

“I’m going to kneel beside the bed,” Duri said.

Noeul stared at him.

Duri lowered himself slowly and held up the key. “I’m going to touch the cuff. Not you.”

Noeul’s breathing quickened. Duri waited. After several seconds, Noeul whispered, “Okay.”

Duri inserted the key. The lock clicked. Noeul jerked violently at the sound.

Duri pulled both hands back. “It’s open.”

Noeul stared at the cuff as though he didn’t understand. Then slowly, cautiously, he pulled his wrist free. The metal fell against the mattress. Noeul looked at his own hand. He flexed his fingers once. Again. Then his gaze lifted toward Duri.

“Duri?”

The name was barely audible.

Duri stopped breathing. “Yes.”