The room feit different.
Nothing had changed.
And yet-
Everything had.
Lyra stood by the window, her arms loosely crossed, her gaze fixed outside-but her mind
wasn't there.
Not in the forest.
Not in the palace.
Not anywhere that made sense.
It kept going back.
To him
To the way his voice had sounded-
Low.
Soft.
Not cold.
Not distant.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"This is ridiculous."
She exhaled sharply, trying to push the thoughts
away.
It meant nothing.
It had to mean nothing.
Just the bond.
Just the curse.
Just-
Something temporary.
Behind her-
Kael hadn't moved.
Not since he stepped back
Not since he put that distance between them.
again,
But this time-
It didn't feel like control.
It felt like restraint.
His gaze flickered toward her.
Just once.
Then away.
Like he wasn't allowed to look for too long.
Your foot," he said after a moment.
Lyra stiffened slightly
Not expecting that.
What about it?"
Kael didn't turn.
"It needs proper treatment."
Lyra frowned.
"I told you, it's fine."
"It's not."
The words carme quicker this time.
Less controlled.
Lyra turned.
Her eyes narrowing slightly.
*Since when do you care?"
The question was sharp.
But quieter than before..
Kael paused.
For a second-
Too long.
Then-
"I don't."
The answer came automatically.
But it didn't sound convincing.
Not even to him.
Lyra noticed
Of course she did.
A small silence stretched between them.
Uncomfortable.
But not hostile.
Then stop bringing it up," she said.
But her voice lacked its usual edge.
Kael exhaled quietly.
Sit"
Lyra blinked.
"What?"
"Sit," he repeated, "I'll fix it."
Lyra stared at him.
Suspicious.
*You?"
Kael finally turned.
Meeting her gaze.
*Don't make it sound like I'm incapable"
Lyra almost smirked.
Almost
"You don't seem like the type."
Kael stepped closer.
Slow.
Measured.
"I'm not," he said. "But this is inefficient."
Lyra raised an eyebrow.
"Of course it is."
A pause.
Then-
Reluctantly-
She sat
Not because she trusted him.
Not because she wanted to.
But because-
For once-
She didn't argue.
Kael knelt in front of her.
The same position as before in the forest.
But this time-
It felt different
Quieter.
Closer.
Lyra watched him carefully as he unwrapped the
cloth around her foot.
His movements were slower now.
More careful.
"You'll make it worse if you keep ignoring it," he
said.
Lyra leaned back slightly.
"You sound like a healer."
Kael didn't look up.
"I'm not."
A small pause.
Then-
"...You didn't have to come find me," Lyra said.
The words came out softer than she expected.
Kael's hands stilled for just a second.
Then continued. "The bond led me."
Of course.
Lyra looked away slightly.
But something about that answer-
"...Right." Didn't sit right.
Kael cleaned the wound carefully, tightening the new bandage around it. His touch wasn't rough. Not even close.
Lyra noticed.
Of course she did.
"...You didn't have to help me either," she added
quietly.
Kael tied the cloth securely. Then-
Paused.
"...You didn't stop me." The words were low. Unexpected.
Lyra's breath caught slightly.
"...That doesn't mean anything."
Kael finally looked up.
Meeting her eyes directly.
"...It might."
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncertain.
Lyra held his gaze for a second longer than necessary.
Then-
She looked away first.
"...Don't read into it."
But something in his expression-
Kael didn't respond. Softened. Just slightly.
He stood, stepping back again.
Creating distance.
But this time-
It wasn't as sharp.
"...Rest," he said.
Lyra nodded faintly.
"...You too."
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Kael paused.
Just for a second.
Then-
"...I will."
Another silence settled.
But this time-
It wasn't cold.
It was something else.
Something quieter.
Something neither of them wanted to name.
Because hate-
Was easier.
Clearer.
Safer.
And this-
Wasn't.