I glanced up at him from my plate. His expression darkened, and I could tell he was quite upset over it.
“I didn’t know there was footage, but he wasn’t boyfriend if that is what you were wondering. I never ran off with anyone, Kalen.”
“Then who was he?” Darius growled, and I jumped at the tone of his voice. Kalen stared at me expectantly, wanting me to answer.
“An acquaintance. I hardly knew him. He was also running from his bonds. I overheard him speaking on the phone in the library to his girlfriend. He wanted to be with her, so he planned to find her.”
“So, he just helped you escape?” Kalen asked.
“Yes. We needed two people to break the wards, so I offered to help him break them if he gave me a lift into the city. We parted ways at the bus depot,” I told them.
“Then where did you go?”
I shrugged. “I had $43, and that was it. So, I told the bus driver to get me as far as he could, heading north.”
“Why north?” Darius asked, and he genuinely sounded curious. I dropped my gaze, knowing my answer would probably anger him.
“Why north, Aleera?” Darius’s tone of voice was more of a demand than a question. I looked at Kalen, who was studying me.
“I was trying to find a place called Astrid.” That seemed to surprise them as they both looked at each other.
“Have you heard of it?”
“Yes, but we aren’t telling you where it is. Why were you looking for it?” Darius asked, folding his arms across his chest and sitting back. He looked at Kalen, who sighed, also refusing to tell me where it was.
“Answer the question, or I make Kalen leave,” Darius growled. I nibbled on my lip, not willing to say, and Kalen looked at Darius.
“Fine, come on, Kalen,” Darius said, hopping up.
“Aleera, just answer. I want to stay.”
Yet I didn’t want my answer to upset him or for him to get the wrong idea.
“Kalen, now!” Darius snarled before bending down and gripping his arm.
“Just a little longer, please.”
Darius glared at him and hauled Kalen to his feet, and the look Kalen gave me broke my heart.
“I was looking for someone,” I blurted, and they stopped.
Darius turned to look down at me, and Kalen looked at Darius.
“She answered. Can I stay?”
Darius’s lip pulled up over his upper lip before he sighed and nodded, and Kalen sat down again.
Chapter 37
Darius watched me fora second before taking his seat.
“Who were you looking for?” Darius asked, and I looked away from him.
“Someone I used to speak to through a chat link online,” I answered, rubbing a hand down my face. When I looked up, Darius had leaned forward, bracing his arms on his elbows.
“So, you were seeing someone?”
I shook my head. “I never met them. I am not sure who they were, but we talked for years from the time my grandmother died.”