I answered softly, lowering my gaze. He gave a few more instructions, then left the room.
He had barely reached the doorway when he passed Sylvia Nightfang coming in.
Sylvia walked in and sat down beside my bed. He didn't say a word. He just watched me, silent and still.
In that instant my heartbeat spiked, and I couldn't tell how much he had heard standing outside.
I didn't speak. Neither did he.
The air seemed to hang, unmoving, for a long time before he finally broke the silence, voice low.
"Hazel Ashford is my mate, after all. So I saved her first…"
Hearing that, something in my chest actually loosened with relief.
It seemed he hadn't arrived early enough to hear what the healer had just told me.
As for who he'd saved first, I simply nodded, my expression calm.
"Of course. Brother-in-law."
The title visibly stunned him. A flicker of panic crossed his eyes.
"You never used to be willing to call me that."
"I am now." My voice was flat. I didn't even look at him. "I've accepted it. The fact that no one loves me."
The words were quiet. Very calm.
But it was precisely because they were too calm that there was nothing he could say in return.