Page 142 of Bound By Crimson
“Hey,” he said, dropping his coat onto a chair. “You’re still up.”
She stood quickly, smoothing the dress over her hips. “Of course I’m up. I wanted to see you.”
He glanced toward the dining table. “Did you eat already?”
“I was waiting for you.”
Kai looked at her then—really looked. His gaze moved over the dress, the makeup, the soft waves in her hair.
“You look… nice,” he said. But it came out wrong.
More reflex than feeling.
She smiled anyway. “I wanted to look nice for you.”
He leaned in and kissed her forehead. Brief. Thoughtless. Then he stepped back.
“I’m wiped. I think I’m just gonna crash early tonight, okay?”
Her stomach dropped. “Do you want me to come with you?”
He hesitated. Just for a second.
But she felt it.
“Maybe just let me have the night. One good sleep. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
She nodded, her smile faltering but holding. “Of course. You’ve been working so hard.”
He gave her one last, tired smile. “You’ve changed, Lyric. I see that. I’m proud of you.”
And then he was gone. Just like that.
She stood alone in the candlelight, the flames flickering across untouched plates and lipstick-stained wine glasses.
She whispered it aloud, as she turned off the lights.
“He’s just tired.”
“He’ll see me tomorrow.”
Still wearing the dress, she lay down on top of the covers in her cold bed.
One hand resting on her stomach.
The other tracing the curve of her locket.
She didn’t cry.
But she felt it—the ache in her chest.
Dull. Heavy. Stretching wider by the second.
And somewhere deep inside, she feared it wasn’t exhaustion at all.
It was distance, dressed like fatigue.
Chapter Forty-Nine
