MAETHYS POV
I didn’t realize how badly I wanted someone to talk to until Nayla was sitting across from me. It felt like she’d been there the whole time—like this was normal.
We’d claimed a corner of the common room where the light was softer. She helped me walk over, sit down, and got me wrapped up in a cozy blanket before she disappeared into the kitchen.
I couldn’t believe my own stupidity for reacting the way I did to the door. My cheeks flushed again just thinking about it. I guess almost dying does that to you.
Nayla returned, two steaming mugs in her hands. They smelled like spring. Fresh herbs and citrus.
She watched me with that particular kind of patience that didn’t feel like pity.
“You look,” she said carefully, “like you’ve been living off adrenaline and stubbornness.”
I
