Ayen held Khal's hand, familiar with his touch by this point. He firmly grasped it before he lifted his gaze and looked Khal in the eye.
Khal watched his movements, not pulling away. Ayen nodded slightly, signaling he was about to start.
The other did not say a word but was waiting.
Ayen had no intention of fully guiding Khal, but only of showing him that he was telling the truth. He did not take his gaze off Khal, either.
With this kind of minimal guiding, Ayen could do it effortlessly, unlike the first few times.
Looking at that expression, Ayen could tell Khal was unconvinced and not expecting anything. They had not reached a certain level of desperation here yet.
That feeling of anticipating something, even if the chances were slim, that they had a decade from now was not present to the current Khal.
Ayen realized his appearance a decade later might be the perfect timing.
