Chapter 16: Before the Answer

Caspian asked if the night in his bed had been trust.

Alex gave him the true answer.

He wanted him. Not absolution.

Alex took Caspian's hand off the gallery rail.

The rail had been holding him up.

He led him through the side door without speaking.

Caspian locked it behind them.

The room held a table and two chairs.

Alex set the Veyne demand on the table between them.

Caspian's eyes went to the seal and stayed there.

'I will not talk about forgiveness tonight,' Alex said.

He kept his hand on the edge of the page.

Under his thumb the seal date read noon tomorrow.

'I want you,' he said. 'Not absolution.'

Caspian lifted his eyes.

Alex continued.

'You stay present. I set the pace. You stop the moment I say stop.'

Caspian nodded once.

He took his phone from his pocket.

He placed it beside the demand.

'Gideon's people track this number,' he said.

Alex looked at the phone.

Caspian had set it face up where anyone at the door could see it.

'Then you just made yourself easy to find,' Alex said.

'I know,' Caspian said.

The gold thread flared between their wrists.

The light stripped the half-lit room bare.

Caspian flinched from the brightness.

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