“You seem troubled,” I can’t help saying.

He runs a hand through his hair. “It’s been a rough few days. I’m sorry I haven’t come to see you, it’s just …”

When he fails to offer a reason, I close the distance between us and place my hands on the rail beside him, our shoulders brushing. “You oversee an entire revolution. You’re busy—I get it.”

I don’t know why I’m trying to make him feel better, when what I really want is to shake him and ask why we haven’t already stormed Lengard. Three days we’ve wasted—six, if we include the time when I was unconscious.

When he chuckles quietly, the sound relaxes something within me, and I remind myself that this is Kael—the boy who saw me twirling in a princess gown when I was six years old and never forgot, the boy who helped rescue me from Vanik. That’s why I want to ease whatever is causing the shadows beneath his eyes—because I know he’d do the same for me. But his humor quickly fades.

“It’s not that,” he says, staring out into the water. “I mean, sure, I’ve been busy. Of course I have. But …” He pauses, then lowers his voice. “I can’t get the image out of my head—Keeda and Cami dragging your body out of Lengard.”

I suck in a breath.

“You were so pale, like a corpse.”

I resist the urge to say that’s exactly how I felt. “But they saved me, Kael.” Thinking of how Smith projected him into my unconscious mind to awaken me, I add, “You saved me.”

“It was close, princess. Too close.” He turns to face me, the city lights reflected in his midnight eyes. “If things go wrong tonight, if Lengard is there and they get their hands on you again—”

“They won’t,” I cut him off, beginning to understand his uncharacteristic behavior. I’m touched that he’s worried about me, but he can’t expect me to sit back and wait while others run headfirst into danger without me. I won’t be caged again—not even by those trying to protect me.

“But—”

“So many things went wrong in that laboratory, Kael. Everything that could happen, did happen. And worse. But tonight’s not like that. I’m not drained and exhausted, and I’m not limited by a fake suppressant rock. I have full control of my ability. See?” I summon another orb of light and let it float in the air between us, highlighting his features so I can see him better. I make sure he’s paying close attention as I finish, “We’re here to save someone else, and that’s what we’re going to do. Together.”

And then we’ll focus on Lengard, I want to add, but decide to pick my battles. As difficult as it is to acknowledge, the priority tonight is making sure this new breakout doesn’t end up in Vanik’s hands. After we succeed, I can press Kael for details about the rescue plan.

He holds my eyes for a long time, light from the orb dancing across his cheekbones, before finally blowing out a breath and nodding.