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Rhyven's expression closes slightly. "Yes."

"What?"

"Confusion."

"Fear?"

A pause.

"Anger." That tracks.

"Did he understand where she went?"

"No."

"Can he still sense her?"

"No." I look into my cup. "Neither could I."

"I know. But she's alive." I say.

Rhyven studies me. "You believe that."

"Yes."

"Because of the Echo."

"Because it didn't end." A pause. "And because Eddy still has something."

"Nothing he can reach."

"Still something." Rhyven looks down. Maybe that's what he needed too. Not certainty. Possibility.

"I've never seen you like that." The words escape.

His gaze lifts. "Like what."

"At the field." He knows. Of course. "You were scared." Silence. I don't mention that I felt it. We both know.

Eventually— "Yes." One word. No denial. That's new.

"For Vyrael?"

"Everyone." My heart shifts. Everyone. Safe answer. Probably true. I let him have it. He looks toward me. "You were scared too."

"Obviously."

"For yourself?"

"No." His eyes narrow slightly. I smile. "Apparently we're both terrible at that." Something settles between us. Quiet. Not romantic exactly. More dangerous. Understanding.

A floorboard creaks in the corridor. We both turn.

Nothing. Then Rhyven says: "You should sleep."

I look at the tea. "This isn't helping."

"No."