“Half the day. It’s the afternoon already.”
She smiled. “Feels like half a year.”
He huffed a quiet laugh, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes. When she looked closely, she saw the storm of emotion sitting behind them.
Oh, that’s not good.
“You slept too,” Kara said.
“I did,” he said, surprised.
“I’m glad.” She sat up with effort, her whole body stiff from sleep. “You were so tired I thought you’d drop on your feet.”
An awkward silence fell. Kara knew they were both replaying every word from last night. She wanted nothing more than to hold him, to close this Godsforsaken distance between them. But as she made to reach for him, he swung his legs off the bed and pulled on one of the fresh tunics that had been laid out. A distraction, disguised as getting dressed.
Don’t run again.
“We don’t need to go anywhere, Sebastian.”
He turned to her, tunic still unlaced. “What do you mean?”
Kara glanced out of the window. “We have the Shards. We have our answer, even if you don’t like it. Draknor aren’t here yet. And Fatàn... they’ve shut the rest of the world out. No one who’s chasing us can reach us here.”
He didn’t say anything, but the unsettled look on his face told her enough. He felt trapped.
Sebastian looked down at his hands. “I need to apologise,” he said hoarsely. “For last night. For what I said to you about capturing me.”
She stayed quiet, watching him carefully.
“You have to know that I don’t hold that against you. Especially not after your trial. After the–”
The pyre.
His voice cracked. He couldn’t say it. But he still didn’t look at her. “There was no excuse for it, Kara. I was hurting and I wanted you to hurt too. Not because I doubt you. I don’t. Really. I–” He finally looked up at her. “I’m so sorry.”
Kara reached out, touched his shoulder. “I know you are,” she said. Her anger had evaporated overnight. “I forgive you.”
“Just like that?” He looked stunned.
“Yes. Just like that.” She gave him a small smile. “You were upset and you lashed out. I understand.”
He caught her hand, held it to his cheek. “Thank you.”
She leaned in, kissing him lightly on the lips. “You’re welcome.”
Kara looked to the half-eaten bread on the table. Exactly as she’d left it. He hadn’t taken a bite.
“You should eat,” she told him.
He nodded, moving to sit at the table, but still didn’t touch the food. He wore the expression she recognised – he was working up to saying something difficult. Something he didn’t want to say. So she didn’t push.
“I’ve killed so many people, Kara,” he said finally.
“You didn’t have a–”
“I heard everything you said last night, and I believe you, I do, but to bind you to me, after everything I’ve done... it isn’t fair. It isn’t right.”
“It feels right to me.”
