Harder To Breathe

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Kalasin wants to throw something at him, times like this—a bottle, a vase, a brick, something heavy

To her shame, a strangled sob comes out instead, and she drops her riding boots in the middle of their study and runs away, to the safety of her room.

She locks all the doors, including the adjoining one that leads to his room, and collapses on the bed, before starting to cry.

An hour later, Kaddar enters softly, the locks proving no obstacle for his Gift. She is lying on the bed, staring at the dresser dully. A stack of half-written letters to home takes up the half not filled with her personal belongings.

He sits on the bed, and she doesn't move. Carefully, he presses two cool fingers under her chin, forcing her to look up at him. Kalasin bites her lip, and resists the temptation to nuzzle her face into his hand.

Taking her hand, he pulls her up into a sitting position. "Better?"

Shrugging, she looks away.

Kaddar takes that as permission, helping her off the bed. Kalasin gives him a glare that would be defiant if it isn't so exhausted.

"Come on," he tells her gently. "Let's eat."

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