Theo chuckled. It was a dry, brittle sound, devoid of any humor, like dead leaves crunching under a boot.
"I know how it sounds," Theo murmured, running a hand through his hair. "Me, hating someone who sacrificed her own soul to save my life? It's pathetic, right? It makes me sound like an ungrateful, judgmental brat."
He leaned his head back against the wall, staring up at the ceiling where the shadows danced in the flickering mana-light.
"But you have to understand, Kael... it goes so much beyond just her. It's not a grudge. It's a visceral reaction."
Theo turned his head, locking eyes with Kael. His violet eyes, usually so calm and observant, looked haunted.
