"I do not care whether she is a female or not. She broke the law. She⁠—"

"Do not say another word about my friend." I grind my teeth, poking my finger into his chest.

I don't know when he got this close, but we're now millimeters apart, both breathing hard as we stare at each other. My heart rate continues to go up at his proximity as I envision all the ways in which I'd make him pay—despite the fact that I know I don't stand a chance. Still, a girl's gotta dream. And right now, I'd like nothing better than to have some cool powers so I could zap his ass out of my room and out of my life if possible.

A twitch appears in his cheek as he stares at me, the purple of his eyes glinting dangerously. His muscles tense, his sheer force rippling through the air. There's a heaviness all around us—one that's making me lightheaded. But I will not back down. I will not let him see how much he unnerves me, not when he thrives on intimidation.

He takes a deep breath, his irises swirling a deeper purple.

"I will vow not to speak of her secret again. Would that do?"

I blink in surprise.

"You...would? Just like that?"

"If you will forgive me," he murmurs in a soft tone.

I gawk at him for a moment before I burst into laughter.

He frowns.

"Of course you'd want something in return." I shake my head. "Not everything in life is an exchange. If you want to do something, you do it because it is the right thing to do, not because you expect something in return. As far as forgiveness goes, you don't barter for it, you earn it."

And with that, I turn my back to him, going to the window and waiting for him to leave. Surely, if I ignore him long enough, he'll get tired of this and do his hocus-pocus thing out of my room.

Steps echo in the room, and in a matter of seconds, I feel him behind me.

Of course he wouldn't leave.

It's dark out, and the windows are semi-reflective. I raise my gaze to see his shadowy figure behind me, his hands in the air as he tentatively lowers them down on my shoulders.

"I vow to never speak of Erithea's secret again," he speaks in a low voice.

"Is that so?" I raise an unbelieving brow at him.

"A vow once spoken cannot be broken. I will not ask for anything in exchange."

I don't reply. It's the least he can do.

"Now will you allow me to heal you?"

I half turn to glare at him.

"You're impossible."

"And you are still bleeding," he says as he takes my injured hand in his, peeling away the napkin to reveal the messy cut. He trails his fingers over my palm, and I wince at the sensation.

He stops.