Elias’s POV

I did not sleep for a long time. Even after Ronan turned off the lights, the room still felt too bright in my head. My thoughts were loud. Vale’s voice kept playing in my mind, like he had whispered into my ear instead of through the door.

Ronan sat at the foot of the bed. He had one leg stretched out, the other bent slightly. His eyes stayed on the door the whole time. I wondered if he could even blink in moments like this.

Minutes passed. Or maybe a whole hour. I kept ...