cell, her gaze moving around the room, to the mug of coffee on her bedside table, and finally back to him. She lifted a shaking hand to tuck her hair behind her ears.
“What were you dreaming about?” He had to ask. He had to know. If only so he might determine a way to right the wrongs he’d committed against her. At the very least, he would attempt to comfort her and assure her that whatever horror she’d dreamt of would never come to pass.
“I-I was dreaming about the courtroom and the white tarp,” she said, lowering her face to stare at the bed. “Only this time, you pulled out your sword and were using it, slowly, taking me apart piece by piece.” She gave her head a sharp shake, as if trying to physically remove all traces of the nightmare from her mind. “While I was waiting for your arrival in the courtroom that day, I heard the spectators giving their opinions on what they believed would happen, and the prevailing belief was that you would hack me to pieces. I-I suppose that’s where the dream came from.”
He gestured at the bed. “Why don’t you get back under the covers and have some coffee? Perhaps a warm drink will help settle your nerves, human.”
She glanced at the mug and finally nodded. “O-okay.”
He assisted her in getting back into bed and even went so far as to arrange her pillow vertically behind her back and tuck the covers up to her waist. Then he sat on the edge of the bed and passed her the mug.
“I put Fiahasn sugar in it,” he said, remembering how much she’d liked it the last time he’d added the rare sweetener.
She popped the lid off the mug and inhaled the steam that wafted upward. “Mm. Thank you, General. I believe this will do a fine job of calming my nerves.”
They remained quiet for a while, though there was a bit of strangeness to the silence. She drank her coffee and he watched her. Occasionally she shot him an odd look, and other times she gave him a polite but anxious smile.
“You don’t blink very often,” she said. “It’s one of those differences between our races that I still haven’t gotten used to. Whenever I spend any amount of time around a Kall, I’m always struck by how infrequently your people blink.” She gave him a curious look and he found himself enjoying her interest.
He then made a great show of blinking fast several times, which made her erupt into giggles and nearly spill her coffee. Clutching her stomach in one hand as she laughed, she placed the mug on her bedside table. “You almost made me snort coffee up my nose. That was most cruel of you.” But her voice was teasing and fluxx if he didn’t adore the way her eyes lit up when she laughed.
He reached for her hand and laced his fingers through hers, his heart racing in his chest. She met his stare and warmth filled him.
This moment they were sharing didn’t do anything to dull his fascination with her. He wished he didn’t have duties to attend to on his warship, because he longed to stay with her for the entire day. But he would have to leave soon, and before he departed her cell, he very much wished to calm any lingering fears she might harbor.
“Layla,” he said, choosing his words carefully, “I hope you know I’ll never use one of my weapons on you. I swear it on the ancient gods.” He released a long breath. “When I think back to the times I threatened your life, I feel… unsettled.” I’m ashamed. I’m sorry. I wish I’d never done it. Why couldn’t he bring himself to apologize? He swallowed hard, his tongue feeling oddly thick in his mouth.
Layla gave a thoughtful nod and reached for the coffee with her free hand, then took a long sip. He gave her other hand, which he hadn’t yet released, a firm squeeze. Still holding the mug, she settled it on her thigh and peered up at him, a look of confusion stealing over her features.
“Why do you visit me so often, General?” she asked. “Not that I don’t appreciate you bringing me coffee and books and…” Her voice trailed off and fluxx how he wished to ask if she enjoyed his company, but the fear of her rejection held him back.
He released her hand and rose to his feet, making