đšď¸THORNE
Ahead of our journey into the mist, I relayed all the developments to Thal.
"I knew it would work," he yipped, stars in his eyes.
I watched him sit with the good news and then he went quietâa sign he had something he wanted to say but was reluctant.
"Spit it out, Thal," I ordered, my voice lacking command.
He stopped and turned squarely to look at me. "Do you love her?"
I regretted asking the question all of a sudden as tension permeated the air. "No," I replied, a little too sharply, a little too swiftly.
His response was an unreadable expression that somehow still bored into me. He nodded imperceptibly, revealing nothing more.
I had dreaded him prodding me for reasons and a more comprehensive overview of my feelings and thoughts but the lack of it felt worse.
Like he had resigned our fates.
