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Darian’s jaw tenses as our eyes lock, and I don’t miss the remorse in them. If he’s lying about any of this, he deserves an award, “For what it’s worth, and it may not be worth much, but I am truly sorry for every part I have played in your suffering. It was never my intention, and I cannot undo the past, but I can promise to do everything in my power to make things right.”
I pinch my lips together and nod, feeling the weight of his words setting in. We remain silent for a moment, before his voice breaks through the quiet. “I’ll show you to your room,” he says gently. “Val can sleep with you if you’d prefer. If you need me, I’m just across the hall.”
I raise a brow at him. “So I’m not a prisoner?” I ask, half joking but the humor in my question falls flat.
Darian looks at me earnestly. “Do you wish to leave?” he asks, his tone genuinely curious.
The thought of venturing out on my own, exposed and vulnerable until Caspian inevitably tracks me down sends a shiver along my spine.
I shake my head.
He’s got me there.
“No, I don’t.” I reply.
And it’s true. The last thing I want is to be caught up by morehunters or stuck in Caspian’s endless list of lies. I’ve gotten more information from Darian tonight than I got from Caspian in the days we were together.
“In the morning, we can discuss further plans on how to free your friend and consider whether it’s necessary to locate the rest of the amulets,” he offers, as if I have as much say in how we approach what comes next as he does.
Wait...
I jerk back, not bothering to mask my surprise, “So you are aware they’re amulets?”
Darian’s voice deepens, coming out as a low growl, “I became aware when my brother nearly had you on your knees with one at the farmer’s market,” his tone laced with anger.
So that was him under the tree.
I feel less insane now...
Slightly.
I grimace, “You saw that?” I ask, a healthy dose of embarrassment washes over me.
Darian’s response is firm. “I believe anyone with a functioning pair of eyes could see the pain you were enduring,” he states plainly.
Which means Caspian also knew and did it regardless.
A shudder runs through me, and Val lifts his head, gazing at me with concerned eyes as Darian rises from his seat, moving toward the hallway that leads to the bedrooms.
“Come on,” he says gently, gesturing for me to follow. “Let’s get some rest tonight and tackle our problems tomorrow.”
I give a nod, grateful for the respite as Val and I trail behind him to our respective rooms.
Chapter 27
A heavy weight presses down on my body, and panic threatens to take hold, but a soft whimper draws my attention.
My eyes snap open, only to be met with Val’s hazel gaze locked onto mine. He gently lifts himself off my body and settles alongside me on the bed.
Inhaling deeply to calm my nerves, I rub my hand on his cheek to his ear. “Is it safe to assume I was having a nightmare?”
His ears twitch, and he responds with a quiet huff.
“Thank you, for everything,” I say gently, and he nuzzles my shoulder, releasing a snort.
A giggle bubbles out of me, and I smile at him, appreciating the moment of lightheartedness.
“You know,” I drawl, “this may be a bit taboo of me to say, but as much as I know I shouldn’t ever look forward to magic returning because of Caspian, I can’t help but anticipate a day when we can actually have a conversation, you and I.”
