Kael went back upstairs. He pushed the door open to his room, the faint aroma of candles mixed with the scent of flowers, and the warm steam still clinging to him from the bath. The room was dim, lit only by the sliver of moonlight slipping through the window.
He had expected Aster to jump at him when he entered, but surprisingly, he wasn't there. He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Instead, on the table sat Eryn's steel canteen, the surface trembling faintly as though something inside was pacing in irritation. The metallic clink against the wood came at irregular intervals, like an impatient heartbeat.
Kael stood there for a moment, observing it. He didn't need to guess—Eryn had clearly locked Aster back inside. The soft thuds from within were too familiar by now.
For a brief second, Kael considered freeing him. His hand even moved an inch toward the canteen before stopping midair. He lowered it again with a quiet sigh.
