Chapter 179: Who isn’t?
"What?" Tila’s voice sharpened, her blindfolded head tilting, her cuffed hands twitching behind her back, suspicion flaring despite her exhaustion.
"She told me to cure your phobia of the dark," Kael said, his voice steady, the bed creaking as he shifted. "That’s why she helped me build the training room, she wasn’t just running errands because I asked her. It was our deal—her request, Tila. I’m doing this because she wants you to be free of it. The one thing, you are the most afraid of that you even sleep with an eye open."
"No, you’re lying," Tila snapped, her voice raw, her blindfold skewing slightly, her body tensing. "Lila wouldn’t—"
"I’m not lying," Kael cut in, his tone firm but gentle, his powers still calming her pulse. "I don’t need to. This is my job—helping you, both of you."
Tila’s breath hitched, her voice breaking, a desperate edge.
"I can’t take this torture anymore. Take this damn blindfold off, you creep." Her words were harsh, but the fight was draining, her shivering faint, the collar’s hum a quiet reminder of her limits.
"Fine, you went through a lot already." Kael nodded, his grin softening, and reached for the blindfold, untying it gently, the black fabric slipping away.
Tila blinked, her eyes squinting against the dim light, her black hair a messy tangle, her gaze sharp but weary.
"Now get away from me, you creep," she said, her voice rough, leaning back on the bed, her cuffed hands shifting.
"Okay," Kael said, his voice friendly, his powers dimming as he stood, stepping back from the bed, giving her space, the room’s stale air easing. "So, where was the cockroach?" she asked, her eyes narrowing, scanning the floor.
"Oh, I stomped it," Kael said, pointing to a faint wet mark near the bed, his grin sly. "Probably stuck to my boot. Look, right there." The mark was just some drool from Tila’s curled-up panic, but she didn’t need to know that.