Zielle
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Silence swells between us.
For the first time since I walked into this room, I see the edge of his defiance dulling. Not quite surrender, but understanding. Faint and reluctant.
Finally, he exhales through his nose, his gaze softening just slightly. "If what you say is true," he says slowly, "that you are really trying to save me from the torture, that you are truly guilty, then tell me what you want me to do."
I raise my head, my heart pounding. "Pretend," I say. "Pretend you're tamed. Pretend you're broken. Just for now. Give me time to convince them to leave you here. If you fight, they'll drag you to the Hollow Keep and I won't be able to stop them. If you let me, I'll try to keep you out."
His jaw tightens, but he doesn't look away. Something about his gaze is making me sweat, making me shake in my boots. "And if you fail?" he asks at last.
"I won't," I say, though the lie tastes bitter in my mouth. "I can't."
