Isellta’s wings flapped faster as they approached the monitor room.
I’m going to see him! Robin, my beautiful Robin!
Maybe he’ll see me. Maybe he is still stuck outside. Maybe he’ll be able to forgive me for all the times I hrrash ka kaed with Her Majesty. Maybe he’ll forgive me for doing it with the nae bi sha. I don’t know if everything the nae bi sha did to me was real. It felt real enough.
I want to do it with Robin. I don’t know if he’ll want me that way. Maybe he won’t. He might yell at me and push me away for suggesting it. And honestly I can’t blame him. It’s a scary thing to demand of someone.
But I would never demand it of him. After all, I know what that’s like.
Maelin opened the door to the monitor room and went inside.
Isellta’s wings flapped even faster.
Jay chuckled. “Okay, kid. I know you’re excited to see him. But you have to calm your wings down so I can get you through the door.”
“Oh. Okay, Jay.” He flapped his wings one more time and settled them flat against his back.
“Good boy.”
Isellta smiled. His back muscles twitched with the need to keep moving, but he kept his wings still.
Robin. My Robin. My beautiful Robin.
Jay carried him into the room.
I’m going to see him! I’m finally going to see him again! Robin! Oh, Robin! My Robin!
“Jay, I know I’m not steady yet, but please. Please put me down. I want to see the monitors for myself. I want to see him.”
“Okay, kid. I’m gonna set you down in this chair here. Is that okay?”
Isellta nodded. He let go of Jay’s shirt.
“Here we go. Easy does it.” Jay carefully lowered him into the rolling chair. “Okay, I’m going to let you go, but I’m going to stay next to you. I’ll make sure you don’t fall.”
Isellta looked up at him and smiled. “My dear Jay. You’re so good to me.”
“Trust me. It’s not a problem.” He pushed the chair closer to the monitors. “All right! Let’s see if we can spot Robin.”
“We will. Because he is here. I know he is here.”
“We’ll see.”
***
Maelin stood on the opposite side of Isellta and contemplated him.
The prominence of his facial bones.
His thin arms.
His fingers’ exaggerated delicateness.
His gaunt frame.
She shook her head.
He can’t go back to Preyuna. She would shatter him.
“Isellta.”
He looked up at her.
“Jay and I will keep you safe.”
He smiled. “I know.” He turned his attention back to the monitors.
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