Chapter 25

It wasn't until they walked right up to him that Kaelis and Theron finally noticed Garrick standing there. Kaelis' expression darkened almost instantly. She even glanced past him, as if checking whether he had dragged Lyra along again, ready to smooth things over with yet another pointless apology. Garrick's mouth twisted bitterly. "Kae, I'm not here to apologize this time. I just… I was hoping you would be here for me. "Since the day I was admitted, no one has come to see me. No one has visited. I miss you. I need you." Garrick held her gaze, his eyes filled with quiet desperation. But Kaelis didn't waver. "We don't have anything to do with each other anymore. Mr. Ironvale, you've got plenty of people lining up to take care of you. You don't need me," she said flatly. She tugged Theron's hand, turned in the opposite direction, and kept walking. When Garrick made to follow, Theron glanced back with a provocative look and said, "Garrick, don't you think it's a little pathetic to