Standing at the bottom of the stairs, Celestia watched as Jareth got closer. Her heart started racing uncontrollably.
"I need to talk to you," she said, eyes warm and fixed on him. But Jareth didn't even glance her way-without missing a beat, he walked right past and headed upstairs.
Refusing to give up, Celestia quickly followed him all the way to the study on the second floor.
"Can we talk, just for a minute?" she asked, moving fast to block the door just as Jareth reached out to shut it.
Face to face with him now, Celestia's eyes had lost all light; they were clouded, somber. She stared straight at him-his face was cold and stoic, completely unreadable. It hadn't even been that long since they'd last seen each other, but he looked haggard.
There was noticeable stubble o
