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Players don’t grant them equal access.

Players don’t choose them first.

And no matter how high I raise Kain’s affection meter, a pet can never unlock the romance path.

Acid churns in my stomach.

I don’t want Kain to just keep me.

I want him to choose me.

Kain’s fingers loosen around my wrist, then disappear completely. He rocks back onto his heels, taking his hands and his body out of my space.

“Okay,” he says quietly. “I’m not helping.”

My breath catches, the whine cutting off.

“I’m not going to fix it. I’m not going to change the plan. You tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.”

The pressure in my head doesn’t vanish, but it eases.

Kain waits.

He doesn’t offer another solution.

He doesn’t tell me what I need.

He just waits.

My hands slowly come away from my ears.

“I need you to follow the schedule,” I say, the admission scraping past my throat.

“Okay.” Kain glances at the clock but doesn’t reach for the pen. “What happens first?”

I swallow. “You need to eat.”

“Okay. Do I need a meal, or is a snack enough for the medication?”

“A snack.”

“What kind?”

I look toward the pantry. “Crackers.”

“Crackers,” he agrees. “And then?”

“Your meds.”

“Good.” He nods toward the pad. “Do you want me to write that down?”

I nod.

Only then does he pick up the pen. Eight o’clock. Crackers. Medication. “What comes after my meds?”

“Breakfast.”

“Okay. Do you want to order it?” He gives me a hopeful pout. “Or can we pick it out together now that I’m off screen restrictions?”