“We can talk in the morning,” Rys promises.
“Will you still be here?” The words slip out. I don’t mean to sound so accusatory—except, okay, I totally do. “How do I know you won’t have to leave me again?”
“You don’t. I’m sorry, Leannán. I never meant to hurt you.” He exhales through his nose, letting the flap fall closed. “I didn’t know what Siúcra would demand for its sacrifice. I thought… I thought it would be for the best.”
“Yeah? Well, let me tell you something, Rys. You thought wrong.”
He nods. “Seems so.”
My jaw drops.
I thought he would argue with me. I thought he would try to explain his actions, prove to me that I was wrong. It’s what Jim would’ve done. How many times did I walk away from an argument with him because he could never admit he was the one at fault?
And Rys just casually accepts that he’s the one who screwed up? My scarred Seelie?
Seriously?
“Oh. Um. Okay, then.” I’m not gonna let this opportunity pass me by. “So what happened? I mean, when you went through the gate. What… hang on. What’s that?”
There’s a small pouch hanging off of the belt wrapped snugly around Rys's waist. After he gave me his cloak, he set his sword down—the former soldier sure to keep it within reach—but he left the pouch where it was. I didn’t really pay it any attention until Rys slips his fingers inside.
“This?” He pulls his hand back out, fingers folded over his palm. Slowly, he lifts them up, revealing a pile of glittering gold dust. “You need your rest.”
Huh? “No. Not yet. We need to have this conversation—”
“Mm… yes. But it can wait. I can sense how tired you are.”
I’m not that tired. “Rys, I—”
Pursing his lips together, he lifts his hand up to his mouth and blows.
Before I can ask what he’s doing, the glittering, golden sparkles hit me dead in the face. Some sting my eyes. Others get into my open mouth; I’d been in “argue” mode when he did that so, of course, I choke on his weirdo dust. I cough, my hands rushing to my eyes, angrily rubbing out the dirt.
At least, that was the plan. It doesn’t quite happen that way because I… I miss.
I hit the top of one cheek with my right hand, whacking myself in the forehead with the other. My arms feel like they’re weighted down. My whole equilibrium is off. I can’t even open my eyes.
From somewhere in front of me, I hear Rys’s soft whisper. “Sweet dreams, Leannán.”
The ground tilts, or maybe that’s just me. I start to fall and, blind and disoriented, I can’t even tell if it’s backward or forward.
The last thing I’m aware of is a pair of strong arms catching me before I hit the dirt. It’s a good thing I never took back the permission I have him to touch me otherwise I might’ve burned the crap out of his skin.
After that?
Absolutely nothing.
I wake up scowling.
On the one hand, I remember being really annoyed right before I fell asleep. On the other, I admit I was probably being difficult. Some people get hangry when they go without food for too long. Me? If I don’t get enough sleep, I can get snippy.
I feel like I have a good reason to be snippy right now.
If only I could remember why...
There’s something in my eyes. Both of them sting as I slowly blink myself awake before rapidly fluttering my lashes, trying to get the grit out. Because that’s what it feels like. Sand or grit or—
Dust.