Which means I’ve been forced to sit here, across from Kael and Varek, with nothing to do but make awkward conversation or stare at the walls. Admittedly, Icouldjust keep my mouth shut. But silence is not, and never has been, my strong suit.
Varek, for his part, made an effort at first. But once he saw that Aelith and Dawson were actually getting along—and, more importantly, once Dawsonlaughed—he decided his work was done.
And, just like that, he abandoned me.
His excuse was thin at best. Something about leaving the new human incapable hands. Mine, specifically. Then, with an infuriating smirk, he walked off.
So, once again, I’m left with Kael.
And honestly, I don’t even know why I’m annoyed about it—beyond his casual rudeness, his clipped responses, and the factthat he rarely looks me in the eye. It’s starting to get to me in ways I don’t quite understand.
I huff a quiet sigh and lean back in my chair, tilting my head towards the ceiling. “So, this is fun.”
Kael doesn’t answer immediately. I expect silence. Instead?—
“How did you come across the rebels?”
I blink. That… isn’t what I expected. My gaze snaps to his, eyes narrowing with suspicion. “Why do you want to know? Looking for intel?”
If I’d been expecting a scoff, a glare, or even a dry, unimpressedReally?—none of it comes. Instead, Kael just shakes his head. “No.” His voice is calm, even. “I only asked because I realise I never have.”
His expression gives nothing away. But the way his glowing markings pulse—slow, steady—makes me think he means it.
I exhale sharply. “Fine. Since you’re so interested.” Though why he is makes no sense to me. We met—and I use that term super loosely—just yesterday.
His gaze stays locked on me.Actuallylocked. For once, he isn’t looking away, isn’t staring past me or keeping his focus deliberately neutral. No, he holds my gaze—unwavering, unflinching, like he’s peeling back layers I hadn’t realised were visible.
It’s unnerving. Intimate. And it makes it impossible to brush him off.
So, I tell him.
I don’t embellish. I don’t dramatize.
I just lay it out.
“I nearly died when I first got here.”
Kael stiffens.
I pretend not to notice. “There was a….” I hesitate, then grimace. “I don’t actually know what it was. Had the body of a panther—a big cat—but way too many teeth. And these ridgesdown its spine that kept shifting, like it was deciding whether or not to grow more.”
Kael’s eyes narrow slightly, his focus sharpening. “A Rithak.”
“Great. It has a name.” I tap my fingers against my abdomen. “Left me a nice little souvenir, though.”
Before I can talk myself out of it, I lift the hem of my shirt just enough to reveal the scar that curves along my side. It’s jagged, the edges rough, like something took a good chunk out of me. Which, to be fair, it did.
Kael’s eyes snap to it. The glow from his markings flares, then dims. His hands tighten into fists against his thighs. “How did you survive?” His voice is quieter now, but there’s an edge to it.
I let my shirt drop back down. “Something bigger got to it first. I ran.”
Kael’s frown deepens. “You were all alone for how long?” His voice is low, almost a growl.
“Five days.” I lean back again, forcing a casual shrug. “I’m a hell of a lot more nonchalant about it now than I was back then. But if it wasn’t for Varek saving my arse, we wouldn’t be sitting here having this conversation right now.”
Kael doesn’t respond. Something about the way his muscles are locked, the sharpness of his jaw, makes me think he’snotnonchalant about it.
I tilt my head. “What, you upset you weren’t there to save me?”
