“What did you hear?”
“Nothing important. Just the usual bullshit.” My voice came out low, bitter.
“He said Sy attacked the temple. He didn’t, Dev. He just flew me around. They shot at him for no reason.”
“Sy will be okay. You know that.”
“Have you seen him?”
“We pulled him out of the river. The bolt had him pinned to the bank—otherwise he never would have let you go.”
I let out a slow breath. “So he’s not hurt?”
“He was. But you know Sy. He won’t stay down long.” A faint hint of a smile touched his mouth. “I’m surprised he isn’t already here with you. He seems to … care about you. A lot.”
“He does,” I said, sure. “I know he does,”
Dev’s smile wavered, then faded. He looked away.
“Good,” he said, a little too firmly. “I’m glad you have someone like him in your corner.”
I glanced at him, a small smile breaking through.
“Thank you for coming for me, Dev. I’m really glad you’re here.”
His eyes flicked back to mine.
“You’re welcome,” he said softly.
A yawn tore out of me before I could stop it. My bones ached with exhaustion, deep and relentless.
“You’re tired.”
“A little. I feel like I have been running for days.”
“You should sleep,” Dev said. “We’ll leave in the morning.”
I studied him then. The shadows under his eyes. The tightness in his face. He looked as worn as I felt.
“You too.”
He forced a grin and rubbed at his mouth, but his eyes never left me.
“What?”
“I was—” He stopped, looked away.
“Dev.”
“I was really scared,” he said quietly. “When we couldn’t find you. That’s all.”
I wanted to reach out and touch his face. To assure him I was okay.
Would you touch me?
I heard his voice, quiet in my memory. And I knew my answer.
I reached for him before I could think better of it.
