Chapter 201: Adelaide.

The faint crunch of Lyros’s tyres on the gravel of the fortress snaps me out of sleep and I jerk awake with a start.

I look at the food and it’s still there. I thank the stars that I didn't make the mistake of spilling it while I dozed off. The candles are still burning and a soft chill wind comes in from the window.

The atmosphere is set. Still set at least, and I nod again.

This will go well. I know it will. I count down the seconds to the moment Lyros will walk in through the doors and my heart seems to anticipate it. I await his arrival like I have been programmed to do so and isn’t that weird?

The door opens with a light creak and I get up immediately, my body aching to run to him and throw myself at him. I exercise restraint and look for tells on his emotion first.

Lyros has one of his rare smiles on his face and my heart soars when I see it.

He’s smiling.

The sight of that small smile has me feeling like I'm in a dream because it transforms Lyros’s face totally. His cold hands