ERIS
I don't know how long I remained seated in that quiet room, drowning in my thoughts.
Figure out the rest, I had told him. We will. I had to believe that. I had to.
The seal pulsed once, gently. Pyronox was there, back to a slumbering beast in the basement of my soul. Not yet, I thought to the dragon. Not yet.
But then his voice replayed in my head. I love you. I really do.
I felt my eyes sting, a hot, sudden pressure.
Why didn't I say it back? Why was I so cursed with this need for armor even when the war was over?
I remembered the way he looked... the hurt he had tried to hide when he told me I didn't need to answer. He thought I didn't feel it. He thought he was leaving me with an unrequited burden.
What was I so afraid of?
Why did I chose being a coward over honesty?
My legs moved before my brain could catch up.
I was already off the bench, my boots thundering against the stone floor. I dashed out of the room, ignoring the sharp pain in my ribs.
