“It was the only white flower I could think of.”
“Do you know what flowers need to survive, Sitri?”
He shrugs. “Water.”
“Sunlight,” I snap. “They have to be outside. And they need company.”
“I don’t think they need that…”
“You can’t really expect me to stay in your chambers for the rest of my life, Sitri. I’ll go mad. I’m already going mad. I’ll probably end up murdering you for it.”
He puffs a breath out of his nostrils. Not quite a laugh, but close. I peek up with a grin. “Or I’ll drive you so mad with my madness you’ll murdermefor it.” I can see him fighting back a smile and satisfaction spears in my chest, along with something else. Excitement.He’s back.
“If anyone’s close to madness right now, it’s me.” He points his steak knife at me. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”
I shoot him a withering look.
“What? Cute not good enough for you, pet? What would you prefer? Beautiful…exquisite…divine?”
“Give me that.” I lunge for the steak knife and he pulls it just out of reach with a grin. I scrutinize his weary face.
“Youlook terrible. Have you slept since you left?”
Several beats of silence pass before he gruffs, “Not exactly.”
“You know people do go mad from that, right?”
“I know,” he says heavily. I lean a little too far over and teeter. “You’re drunk,” he accuses. “And I doubt you’ve eaten anything.” Stabbing his fork into a chunk of meat, he tries to feed it to me.
“Go to hell,” I snarl, yanking my head back. He chuckles. “I ate some cake.”
His brows climb his face. “Cake? Good decisions all around today,” he hums out.
“I’ll eat later. You know you really have no room to lecture me when you’re the one that hasn’t slept in three days.”
He rubs at his eyes. “Did we agree it’s been three days?”
“I think you’re asking because you actually don’t know.”
He laughs, pushes his plate away, and slides his head to the counter. “You would not be wrong,” he mumbles.
“I would say it’s been roughly two and half days.”
“I think if we stay here any longer, I’m going to pass out on this counter and no one will be able to get me back up.” I’m not opposed to the idea and he gives me a meaningful look. “I would prefer not to sleep here, pet.”
“Wait.” I search the empty kitchens. Vera’s nowhere to be seen. “Let me at least say goodbye.” I scramble toward the storerooms, calling Vera’s name. I find her behind the third door I open, crying into her hands. I quickly close the door behind me. “Vera…you can’t let him get to you. He’s an asshole.”
“No…he’s right,” she blubbers. “I put you in danger and I..I didn’t even…I didn’t defend you, Pandora. I froze. I don’t know how that happened. Valik was going to hurt you and I wouldn’t have been able to defend you.”
“Look at me, we’re fine. Nothing happened.”
“Something did happen. Valik happened because I wasn’t paying attention to the time and—“ She breaks off with another sob. “Now he’ll probably quit bringing you here, and I’ll never see you guys again.”
“What? No way. Of course, we’ll be back. I’ll make him bring me back. If he doesn’t…I’ll mix up all of his potions and cut holes in his socks. I’ll—I’ll put wild parsnip in his shampoo and stinging nettle in his body wash.”
She lets out a wet sounding laugh. “Vera…this was one of the best days I’ve ever had. Even with Valik…I don’t regret it for a minute.”
She peeks up from behind her hands. “You’re just saying that.”
