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And with that, Zarrel turned on his heel and left. I watched, dumfounded, as the door closed behind him. Neither of us spoke, not as we watched the door, dumfounded by the response regarding Rafaela we received.

“Actually, prickly doesn’t seem right,” I said. “Prick feels more fitting for him.”

“I was just thinking the same thing.” Erix broke his line of sight from the door, settling it back on me. His silver eyes roamed over my face, noticing details I couldn’t see without a mirror. “Although I hate to admit this, you do look tired, Robin. Maybe it is best that we sleep until tomorrow. And by we, I mean you.”

I blinked, squeezing my eyes closed as an attempt to will the headache from my skull. “Do you know what they have done to Rafaela?”

Erix paused. I opened my eyes, turned to face him and saw the clear worry across his brow. “No, I don’t. But I promise we will find out first thing. Tomorrow, okay?”

We were all aware she’d face punishment. But I’d not found out what exactly that punishment had been. And I admit, I hadn’t attempted to find out. With everything happening to Duncan, my mind had been occupied. Guilt was so familiar, it was almost comforting to feel in that moment. Of course, I’d tried to reach Rafaela by letter, multiple times. I believed her silence was because she was too busy with the humans. Now I worried the lack of response was for a more sinister reason.

A reason Ihadto find out.

But since the Nephilim weren’t going to help me, I knew someone else who could. But for that, Erix needed to leave me alone.

“Then let’s hope that Cassial agrees that I can speak to her,” I said, plans forming frantically in my mind. “Maybe he will also have answers as to why I never received responses to my letters to Rafaela.”

I got the impression they never reached her, that’s why.

“Yes. A solid plan.” Erix looked from me to the closed door. There was obvious hesitation in his lack of movement. “You know, if you’d prefer, I could stay in here tonight, with you.”

For the past few nights, Erix had taken a seat beside my bed and watched me. I knew he also slept, but having someone so close, someone I could call on when I needed it, was a blanket of relief.

My heart screamed for me to accept him, but my mind had other focuses.

“I’ll be fine tonight.” I shook my head before I gave in to my weakness for him. “Your room is opposite to mine. I know where to find you if I change my mind.”

Stay with me. Don’t leave me. I need you.

I couldn’t present those demands to him. I wouldn’t. My desires didn’t matter anymore. All that mattered was answers, and I couldn’t wait to get them tomorrow.

I needed themnow.

Erix looked exhausted, likely the reason he didn’t refuse me. There was no denying that, from the deep shadows beneath his silver eyes, to the pallor his skin had taken, hours of flying had drained him. Although his body was not completely fey, not entirely gryvern, he still had his limits.

“Promise you will actually sleep, or at least try.”

“You spend more time worrying about me, instead of yourself, Erix.” I eyed him up and down. His slumped posture, the shadows beneath his eyes and the heavy drag of his feet all confirmed that he was exhausted. He’d just flown across a realm for me, it was a miracle he could still stand.

“I do, and will. Always.”

It took restraint I hardly had to not blush. “Anyway, I’ll just be stirring all night. I don’t want to keep you up.”

“I wouldn’t mind the stirring. Besides, I’m used to sleeping through your snoring by now,” Erix added, voice soft as he fiddled with his hands.

“Lies. I don’t snore.”

“Are we really going to have this disagreement again?” Erix released a short chuckle which quickly became a yawn.

Erix had first accused me of snoring when I fell asleep behind him as we rode into Cedarfall lands the day I was saved, saved myself, from execution. The memory was so clear it could’ve happened yesterday, not longer ago.

“Then be glad you can sleep without the burden of those snores tonight. Sleep well, Erix,” I said, opening the door for him before I changed my mind.

He took a step closer, worry set into the lines beside his eyes. “Are you sure, little bird?”

If he tested me one more time, I’d crumble and tell him exactly what I wanted. “Yes, I’m sure. Go. You look like death warmed up. Get some sleep. Nothing exciting is going to happen until tomorrow, you heard Zarrel.”

We both glanced toward the door opposite the corridor to mine. There was hardly a physical space between us, and yet the cavernous gap was growing.