In his room, Zach was jotting down notes in a notebook when he heard a knock. He swiftly closed the notebook.
"It's me. Can I come in?" Ark called from outside.
Zach stashed the notebook in a drawer. "Yes!" he responded.
Ark opened the door and entered quietly. "Hey... Per asked me to check on you. I don't want to pressure you, but if you need to talk, I'm here. You know... just as two guys."
Zach rose from his chair and smiled at him. "Thanks, Ark. I appreciate it. But I'm okay, really. I'm just, perhaps, still processing everything that's happened. But I think I can manage on my own."
"You sure?" Ark asked.
"Yeah," Zach nodded in assurance, then noticed Ark's left hand. "Hey, what happened to your hand?" His expression shifting with concern.
"Oh, this," Ark raised his left hand, displaying the missing little finger. "The last fight was tough. Lost a pinky," he chuckled softly. "But it's no big deal. Hardly notice it anymore."
Zach's worry remained clear on his face. "I'm sorry, Ark. You taught me how to fight, but I failed to defend myself." He sighed, bowing his head. "It's embarrassing."
"No need to apologize. None of this is your fault," Ark reassured. "And there's no shame in it. You did your best."
Zach only nodded in response before Ark quietly left the room.
****《•》****
Per found Clair on the balcony in her room, her arms resting on the concrete railing as she gazed at the night sky.
She joined her quietly. "Are you speaking to Father?"
Clair stayed quiet, slowly lowering her gaze.
Per looked out the window. "The Council wants to hear your account of the incident," she said in a subdued voice.
"I know." Clair replied, staring into the distance.
"Are you prepared for what they might ask?" Per asked, her voice gentle but worried.
There was a pause before Clair responded, sighing heavily. "Yes, I do. Don't worry about it."
Per wanted to believe her words, but she still looked at her with lingering concern.
After Per left the room, Clair quietly slipped into Zach's room. He was already waiting for her. As she climbed into bed beside him, he wrapped his arms around her.
She lifted her head to meet his gaze. "I just need to clear our friends' names tomorrow, and then we can book our plane tickets."
He gently swept her hair away from her face. "Okay, I'll wait for you," he murmured, his voice tender.
She smiled warmly and nestled deeper into his embrace.
****《•》****
Past midnight, the mansion doors suddenly opened as Cerro rushed inside. Per quickly approached him, alarmed by his arrival.
"Where's Clair?" he demanded, his voice carrying a sense of urgency.
"Is it the Council?" Per asked, worry creasing her brow.
Ark joined them moments later, recognizing the seriousness of the matter.
"It's worse than that. We have a major situation in the Pit. We need her," Cerro explained, his expression tense.
Clair appeared from the hallway, meeting Cerro's gaze. The fire in her eyes had returned.
YOU ARE READING
Divine & Wicked: The Strayed Memories (Book2)
Fantasy(Fantasy•Romance) COMPLETED Zach awoke a few days after his surgery, his mind foggy and his heart empty, as though his life had been reset. He moved through what he believed was his normal routine, unaware that fragments of a forgotten past were slo...
