Chapter 61 061

Chapter 61 061

Rayna
By the time the sixteenth night crept in, my nerves were already frayed down to the bone.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t scrub the day clean from my head. The whispers, the half-seen faces, t he way my body had reacted before my mind even caught up, and how I’d skidded back to my room like prey that had just sensed teeth too close to its spine.

Prior to this moment, I'd told myself that I was adventurous and not a lot of things scared or shook me to the core, but after my little encounter with whoever I'd missed in the hallway earlier today, I stand to be corrected.

Not only was I scared, I was scared shitless, to the bone or whatever adjective could be used to adequately describe how afraid I was.

I remembered slamming my door shut behind me, pressing my back to it as my heart tried to beat its way out of my chest. I hadn’t been able to sit still after that. I paced, I stopped, I stared at nothing. I tried to read, I tried to lie down, ried to convince myself I’d imagined it, but I hadn’t, and that made things all the more worse.

I told myself not to think about it, but the more I tried to block the thoughts out, the harder they came back at me.

Someone inside the House was watching, someone was talking, and somehow, the knowledge of that made Zero’s silence feel heavier instead of safer.

I didn't no anybody here besides Zero and the Mistress, and even at that, it meant nothing. Everyone here had their secrets, and that was more dangerous than anything else.

By the time night fell, I was exhausted in a sharp, jittery way. The kind that came from too much thinking and not enough answers. My body moved on instinct as I dressed, my hands steady even while my thoughts tangled themselves into knots.

I told myself I wouldn’t think about it tonight.

I lied.

The walk to Zero’s room felt longer than usual. Every shadow looked deliberate, like someone was standing in the corner and just waiting for me to make a mistake. Every corner felt like it might cough up a secret if I stared too long , but I kept my head high anyway, because fear had never served me well in this place.

When I reached the door, I paused only long enough to inhale.

Then I went in. Zero was already there. Of course he was.

He sat on the edge of the bed in his usual posture, his spine straight, his hands resting on his knees, and head slightly bowed. Got a split second, I actually asked myself if he never got any kind of pains on his lower back or neck. Trust me if I had to sit in that position for sixteen nights on end, I would have definitely snapped at the nearest person I could find.

He looked exactly the same as he always did, like time didn’t touch him the way it touched everyone else, and something in my chest loosened despite myself.

“Well,” I said lightly, letting the door close behind me, “you didn’t even check up on me today. Not a glance, not a dramatic concern for my well being. I’m starting to think you don’t care. But that's not true, is it?”

He didn't answer, and this time I almost laughed.

I crossed the room slowly, my heels clicking softly against the floor. The sound echoed and then died, swallowed by the walls.

“Rude,” I added, glancing at him. “A girl disappears into the House all day and you don’t even ask if she survived.”

Still nothing, but I didn't let it get time.

“Don’t strain yourself.” I rolled my eyes and snorted softly. “Wouldn’t want you breaking your streak.”

Normally, this was where I’d keep going, fill the space with noise until the silence bent under the weight of it. But tonight felt…different. Even the air was taut and charged, like it knew something we both didn't.

I stopped near him and tilted my head.

“You know,” I said, slower now, “I actually have something for you.”

That caught something. Not movement, not quite, but the air shifted. His shoulders didn’t relax, but they adjusted, the tiniest change, like he was listening whether he wanted to or not.

“You don't have to worry if it's bad or not.” I smiled faintly. “A thank-you.”

I let the words linger before adding, “For doing something worthwhile last night.”

His jaw tightened.

“Don’t look so confused,” I continued. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

I stepped closer, my heart picking up pace with each measured stride.

“That look you gave me? The full one?” I hummed softly. “It was very generous of you.”

He didn’t move. He didn’t speak, didn’t look away, and I told myself that was a good sign.

One of the best in my opinion.

I stopped right in front of him, close enough to feel the heat of his body, and the controlled steadiness of his breathing. For a second, doubt flickered, sharp and brief, but I crushed it before it could take root.

I turned and sat down beside him.

The mattress dipped slightly under my weight, subtle but undeniable. The first thing I noticed was how soft the mattress was, and I couldn't help but think, maybe Zero wasn't all that uncomfortable in his position.

I could feel him now in a way I hadn’t before, the solid presence of him, and the restrained strength held so tightly it almost vibrated.

Slowly, deliberately, I leaned sideways. My shoulder brushed his arm, and I held my breath, just waiting to see his reaction. Would he push me away? Glare at me till I melted into nothing beside me? Was tonight finally going to be the night he broke his silence by asking me to get away from him?

I swallowed as I allowed all of those questions and more swarm in my head. It didn't take too long, but eventually I figured out something.n

He didn’t push me away.

The realization hit me all at once, stealing the air from my lungs. My heart slammed hard against my ribs, so loud I was sure he could hear it. I waited for the recoil, the tension, the sharp rejection of space reclaimed, but it didn’t come.

He stayed exactly where he was.

His arm remained rigid at his side, muscles tight beneath the fabric, but he didn’t move it. He didn't lift it, didn’t shove me back to my side of the invisible line we’d never crossed before.

I leaned a little more, my weight settling against him.

Still nothing.

My pulse went wild after that. I didn’t know if my heart was racing because of how close he was, or because he was allowing it. Because for Zero, allowance was everything. Silence was his weapon, restraint his shield, and right now, he was lowering it just enough to let me in.

Holy fuck.

My skin tingled where we touched, awareness sparking and spreading like a slow burn. I stared straight ahead, afraid that if I looked at him, the spell would shatter.

“See?” I murmured softly. “I can be grateful.”

He remained silent, but he stayed, and as I leaned against him, my thoughts scattering between fear and thrill, one truth settled deep in my chest, heavy and undeniable.

Whatever lines Zero had drawn around himself, tonight, I’d crossed one, and he’d let me.