Page 89

By that evening, the house had taken on a different mood. Korinnae was still asleep, recovering from the procedure, and for the first time since Ria had arrived in Vale Crossing, there was nothing immediate demanding her attention. She and Asterion sat together in the living room, but neither seemed particularly interested in the book or tea they’d brought with them.

She had been thinking about the same thing all afternoon. “I don’t have to stay anymore,” she said.

Asterion looked over at her. “I know.”

The answer wasn’t what she’d wanted, and she folded her hands in her lap. “Korinnae is healed. The tattoo worked, and the poison is gone. You don’t need me here.”

“I know.”

She studied him, waiting for him to say something else. When he didn’t, she took a breath. “I’m a healer, Asterion. There are people in the Upperworld who require my assistance. I can’t stay in Vale Crossing indefinitely.”

His expression tightened. “I understand.”

“Do you?”

His gaze shifted toward the window.

She felt her patience slipping. “Because I’ve been thinking that maybe there was another reason for me to stay.”

That brought his attention back to her.

She held his gaze. “Us.”

Asterion didn’t answer.

Ria’s stomach tightened. She’d known this conversation was coming, but she’d hoped that by now he would have figured out what he wanted. They’d spent weeks together. They’d kissed, shared a bed, talked about things neither of them had expected to tell anyone, and built something that felt far too important for her to dismiss.

“Do you want me to stay?”

“I want you here.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“I don’t know what to say,” he finally said.

She looked away for a moment, trying to absorb the words without letting her hurt show on her face. “You don’t know.”

“I care about you.”

“That’s not the same thing.”

“Aye, it isn’t.”

“Then what are we doing?”

Asterion leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “I don’t know what this is supposed to become.”

Ria gave a small, disbelieving laugh. “You don’t know?”

“No.”

“After everything that’s happened?”

His eyes met hers again. There was something conflicted in his expression, but it wasn’t enough to answer the question she had been asking him.

Ria stood. “I can’t stay here waiting for you to figure it out.”

Asterion rose too. “Ria⁠—”