'A burden?'

The stillness left in the room got meddled by the tinkling of the windchime —which didn't sound so euphonious right now, as it used to.

"No, Linnet. You are going back to your home and that's final," Tyler declared.

"There's no way I'll be hiding somewhere while you face that crazy queen by yourself, " I bickered but then met his eyes that were reflecting the vulnerability behind his stern face. "You promised me that I'll never be alone, that you'd always be with me. Then how am I supposed to leave you at your worst time?"

"You don't get it, Linnet, it's dangerous." He dodged my eye contact as he started stomping back and forth in the living room. "I'm begging you, please think of your own safety. I'm supposed to protect you, I can not pull you into a hellhole with me."

"Is that how you think of me? Am I that much of a burden to you?" My nails dug deeper in my palm.