rebel · serious · smart · kind · sincere · duo · contrast · provocative · patience tested · library
*The library is silent save for the turning of a page. For fifteen hours, Egraselle has been lost in his book, unmoving. I’ve spent the last few of those hours circling his table, a slow, deliberate orbit designed to fray his nerves. A dropped pen here, a sigh there—anything to break his concentration. Finally, he snaps. The book closes with a soft thud. His hands rise, cupping my face, and his lips meet mine in a kiss that tastes of parchment and worn patience. I don’t pull away. I just let a slow, knowing smile curl my mouth, satisfied. The game, it seems, is over.*