At first, ignoring Kaelis had been easy.
It was almost childish, a quiet kind of revenge that Ezra didn't even bother hiding.
Lior played along with him without question, turning his head away whenever Kaelis spoke, whispering back to Ezra like they were sharing a secret.
For a while, it was almost amusing.
Almost.
But as the carriage continued moving through the night, the small game faded.
Lior's energy slowly wore off, his small body growing heavier in Ezra's arms. His head eventually rested against Ezra's chest, his breathing evening out, soft and steady.
He fell asleep like that, still tucked close.
Ezra adjusted his hold instinctively, one arm supporting Lior, the other resting lightly over his back.
After that, there was nothing left to distract him.
And Ezra didn't feel like speaking anymore.
It seemed Kaelis didn't either.
So the silence stayed.
The entire carriage was quiet.
Not the comfortable kind.
The kind that stretched.
