CHAPTER 55

Vera's POV

Vera stood near the window, arms folded, staring out at the compound. Guards everywhere.

“Yeah,” Aaron’s voice came from behind her, lazy but sharp underneath, “I counted twelve just from here.”

She didn’t turn. “There were six earlier.”

“Exactly.”

She exhaled slowly. “So we’re officially prisoners now.”

“Soft version,” he said. “With better furniture.”

That pulled a small breath out of her. Not quite a laugh.

She turned, leaning her shoulder against the wall. “You tried leaving?”

He tilted his head slightly. “I looked like I was going to try leaving.”

“And?”

“They stopped me before I even got close to the gate.”

She raised a brow. “Stopped you how?”

Aaron sat up a little straighter, mimicking the guard’s tone. “Sir, with all due respect, you’re not permitted beyond this point.”

She folded her arms tighter. “And you listened?”

He gave her a look. “Do I look like I listened?”

That almost made her smile.

“What did you do?” she asked.

“I asked who gave the order.”

“And?”

“They said Kael.”

Vera’s jaw tightened slightly. Of course.

Aaron continued, more casually now, “So I told them to move.”

“And they didn’t.”

“They hesitated,” he corrected. “Which was already annoying.”

She studied him. “What did you do after that?”

He leaned back again. “I reminded them I don’t take orders from Kael.”

Vera blinked once. “And that worked?”

“They still didn’t move,” he said, then smirked faintly. “So I gave them a better reminder.”

Now she was interested. “What kind of reminder?”

Aaron shrugged. “The kind that comes with consequences if ignored.”

“They moved.”

Then Vera huffed softly. “So you can walk out anytime.”

“Technically.”

“But you didn’t.”

He didn’t answer immediately.

Just looked at her.

“…No,” he said after a second.

“Why?”

He held her gaze. “Because walking out alone when something is clearly wrong is stupid.”

She tilted her head slightly. “You don’t strike me as someone who avoids stupid decisions.”

“That’s rude.”

“That’s accurate.”

He almost smiled.

Then his expression shifted, just a little. “Also… I wanted to see how long before you noticed.”

She frowned slightly. “Noticed what?”

“That we’re being contained,” he said simply.

She exhaled through her nose. “I noticed.”

“Late,” he added.

She shot him a look. “I had other things on my mind.”

His eyes flicked over her face slowly.

Too slowly.

“…Yeah,” he said. “I can see that.”

Her expression didn’t change, but she looked away first.

Annoying.

“Don’t start,” she warned.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You don’t need to.”

“I’m just observing.”

“You’re judging.”

“Also that.”

She pushed off the wall and moved further into the room, dropping into a chair like her body finally decided to admit it was tired.

Aaron watched her the whole time.

“…You’re moving slower,” he said.

She rolled her eyes. “Wow. Thank you, doctor.”

“I’m serious.”

“I just fought my way out of a building,” she replied flatly. “What do you expect?”

“I expect you to pretend you’re fine,” he said. “Which you’re doing. Badly.”

She paused.

Then leaned back, crossing one leg over the other. “You’re very observant today.”

“I’m always observant. You’re just usually less obvious.”

She stared at him for a second.

Then sighed. “You’re annoying.”

“I’ve accepted that.”

Silence settled for a moment.

Then her gaze dropped briefly—to his side.

His wound.

Still not fully treated.

Still bleeding through the fabric, just enough to notice if you were paying attention.

She was.

“…You didn’t let them treat that properly, did you?” she asked.

He glanced down like he forgot it existed. “It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine.”

“I’ve had worse.”

“That doesn’t make it fine.”

He looked back at her. “You sound concerned.”

“I’m being logical,” she said immediately.

“Sure.”

She held his gaze. “You’re injured.”

“And still standing.”

She narrowed her eyes slightly. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re avoiding the point.”

“What point?”

“That you care.”

She scoffed. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

“Too late.”

She shook her head, but didn’t look away this time. “If you pass out from blood loss, I’m not carrying you.”

“I’d pay to see you try.”

“I’d drop you halfway.”

“You’d regret it.”

“Doubt it.”

That one almost turned into a smile.

Then his expression shifted again.

Subtle.

But there.

“…You should’ve stayed in your room,” he said.

She frowned. “Why?”

“Because whatever that was earlier—” he stopped, then corrected himself, “—you weren’t okay after it.”

Her chest tightened slightly.

“I’m fine,” she said.

He looked at her like he didn’t believe that for a second.

“Right,” he muttered.

Before she could respond—

The door opened.

Lina stepped in.

And stopped immediately.

Vera’s expression closed slightly. Not cold. Not warm.

Something in between.

Lina took a small breath. “I’m sorry.”

Vera didn’t respond immediately.

She just looked at her

Lina stepped a little closer. “I know it doesn’t fix anything.”

Silence.

“I know I hurt you,” she continued, quieter now. “And I know I don’t get to just walk back in and expect things to be normal.”

Aaron shifted slightly in his seat but didn’t interrupt.

For once.

Vera finally spoke.

“You don’t.”

Lina nodded quickly. “I know.”

“You don’t get to come back and act like nothing happened,” Vera added.

“I’m not,” Lina said.

“And you don’t get to expect me to trust you,” Vera continued.

“I don’t expect that either.”

That made Vera pause.

Just for a second.

Then she exhaled slowly.

“I’m not saying I forgive you.”

“I know.”

“I’m not saying I understand it.”

“I know.”

Vera held her gaze.

Then said it, steady and clear, “But I’ll try.”

Lina blinked.

Like she didn’t expect even that much.

“Try?” she repeated softly.

“Don’t make me regret it,” Vera said.

Lina nodded immediately. “I won’t.”

Vera didn’t respond.

But she didn’t shut her out either.

And for now—

That was enough.

Aaron let out a quiet breath. “…Well. That went better than I thought.”

Both girls looked at him.

He raised his hands slightly. “I’m just saying. Nobody died. That’s progress.”

Vera rolled her eyes. “Stay out of it.”

“I am out of it,” he said. “I’ve been out of it since this started.”

“You’re literally sitting in the middle of it.”

“Physically, yes. Emotionally? I checked out a while ago.”

“That explains a lot.”

“Thank you.”

A small silence followed.

Then—

A guard knocked and stepped in slightly. “Ma’am, you’re not permitted to leave beyond this area.”

Vera didn’t even look at him. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Orders,” the guard said.

Aaron stood up slowly.

“yea....minus me right?” he asked.

The guard hesitated. “Sir

“You do know I outrank that order, right?” he said calmly.

The guard swallowed. “Sir, we were instructed—”

“You were instructed to follow orders,” Aaron cut in. “So follow mine.”

Silence.

The guard looked uncertain.

Aaron held his gaze.

Didn’t raise his voice.

Didn’t repeat himself.

After a second—

The guard stepped back. “Understood, sir.”

And left.

Just like that.

Vera watched the whole thing.

Then looked back at Aaron slowly.

“…So you can actually override them.”

“I told you.”

“And you still stayed.”

“I told you that too.”

She studied him for a second longer.

Then nodded once.

“Not bad.”

“I know.”

Lina looked between them. “…I feel like I’m watching something I don’t fully understand.”

“You are,” Vera and Aaron said at the same time.

They both paused.

Then looked at each other.

A beat.

And for the first time since everything—

They smiled.

Not big.

Not dramatic.

Just… real.

Like they both reached the same conclusion without saying it out loud.

Vera tilted her head slightly.

Aaron’s smirk deepened.

Yeah.

Same thought.

Same plan.

Lina’s eyes narrowed immediately. “…No.”

They didn’t look at her.

“…No,” she repeated, stepping back slightly. “Whatever that was—no. I’m not involved.”

Still no response.

She pointed between them. “That look? I know that look. That’s a bad decision look.”

Aaron crossed his arms. “You don’t even know what we’re thinking.”

“I don’t need to,” Lina said quickly. “It’s already dangerous.”

Vera finally spoke, calm, almost innocent, “You’re overreacting.”

“I’m not,” Lina said immediately. “I already died once, remember? I’m not getting killed a second time because of whatever you two just planned in your heads.”

That made Aaron laugh.