"And then it ends," he said.
"And then it ends," she said.
He opened his eyes.
Looked at her.
Covered her hand with his.
"Come back," he said.
"Always," she said.
Vessa drafted the response that evening.
Formal. Precise. The language of someone who had spent forty one years learning to use the Conclave's own systems against it.
Accepted. Two representatives. Named date and location per the charter provision.
Eve signed it.
Damian signed it.
They sent it through the courier before nine.
She found Silas in the library.
He was at the table with the folder.....not reading it. Just sitting with it. His hand flat on the cover.
He looked up when she came in.
She sat across from him.
They looked at each other.
"You're afraid," he said.
Not asking. Stating.
"Yes," she said.
"Good," he said.
She looked at him.
