---
Crackle…
Sekhmet remained awake through it all.
At some point, Lily stirred again, lifting her head. Her eyes were open now, clear, not sleepy. She looked at Sekhmet for a long moment.
Then she spoke softly. "Do you remember the promise you made to me?"
Sekhmet blinked. "I made you many promises," he said.
Lily narrowed her eyes.
"One promise," she insisted. "The one you tried to escape by pretending you forgot."
Sekhmet frowned, trying to recall.
Lily's voice became slightly theatrical, mimicking her younger self. "You promised that when I become strong, you will take me outside the city and show me the wild lands."
Sekhmet's eyes widened slightly. He remembered. He remembered her insisting she wanted to see "real beasts." He remembered him saying yes just to make her stop dragging his sleeve. He remembered her clapping her hands like she had won a kingdom.
Sekhmet exhaled slowly.
"I remember," he admitted.
Lily's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
