My gloved fingers curled tight against the stone.
And why—
why in God’s name—
did it look like K could be behind it?
Chapter 33
Seph
I brooded over the night’s events until my thoughts went sour.
Hours passed, but the image of K slipping from the trees—
that fleeting, satisfied look—
kept replaying like a glitch in my mind.
Echo must’ve gotten bored of my silence, because she began flicking tiny paper balls at my head.
The first one bounced off my temple.
The second landed in my lap.
The third hit me square between the eyes.
“I got the hint,” I muttered, picking one up. “You’re getting better at your aim.”
A rustle, then my pen lifted and scribbled across the page she used to communicate with me.
A tiny smiley face.
Despite everything, the corner of my mouth twitched.
“How strong are you really?” I asked quietly.
She hesitated, then drew a question mark.
“I’m sorry,” I corrected softly. “I mean… can you leave this room at all?”
Another pause.
A sad face.
Then a question mark beside it.
Then—
slowly—
another.
Like she didn’t quite know the answer either.
“I’m sorry, Echo.”
A soft brush of air skimmed my cheek — gentle, apologetic. She’d heard me.
