Chapter 42

The table was now empty, the remnants of their meal cleared away by the waitstaff. The atmosphere around them had shifted from the warmth of shared food to a tense air of expectation. Zedd leaned back in his chair, eyes flicking between Elara and Reina. He'd been quiet for a few moments, gathering his thoughts.

"You two listen up," Zedd said suddenly, breaking the silence. His tone was a mix of authority and practicality. "We need to work. There's a lot ahead of us, and if we're going to survive, we need to pull our weight."

Elara raised an eyebrow, a sharp smirk crossing her face as she leaned back in her seat. "What? That's the duty of the man, isn't it?"

Zedd chuckled darkly, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Wrong. We're companions, not some old-fashioned idea of gender roles. We need to share responsibilities. You two will work, too."

Elara looked at Reina for a brief moment before crossing her arms. "Hmm, okay. But me and Reina are sticking close to you."

Zedd tilted his head, a curious smirk tugging at his lips. "Why?"

Elara's gaze narrowed, and her voice came out a little harsher than usual. "I still don't trust you."

Zedd felt a flare of amusement. He had expected this. The trust between them had been fragile, and he wasn't surprised that Elara still had her doubts. But he couldn't let her think for a second that he wasn't serious about protecting them. Still, he decided to have a little fun with her.

He dramatically placed his hand over his heart, his expression one of mock devastation. "What? You don't trust me?" He turned to Reina, feigning sadness. "Reina, you think I'm that kind of person?"

Reina's eyes widened at the question. She was stuck in the middle. She had always admired Zedd, even before they'd become companions, but her loyalty to Elara was strong, too. The idea that Zedd might betray them made her nervous, but there was something about him—something that kept drawing her in.

Taking a deep breath, Reina finally spoke, her voice quiet but steady. "I don't think Zedd would leave us."

Zedd's lips twitched at her response, his eyes softening for a moment.

Elara scoffed, clearly unimpressed by Reina's comment. "Ha, you're too innocent."

Zedd raised an eyebrow, his expression returning to its usual calm but determined demeanor. "Okay. How much do you trust me, Elara?"

Elara didn't hesitate. She held up her fingers, showing a minuscule gap between them. "This much."

Zedd gave her a playful, yet serious look. "I'll make it the whole world, Elara."

Elara just rolled her eyes, a playful smirk curling at the corners of her lips. "Dream on."

The words hit Zedd harder than he expected, though he would never admit it. He had no idea what the future held for them, but at that moment, the idea of them being something more than just companions seemed distant. Still, a small part of him couldn't help but wonder.

If he could see into the future, he wouldn't have imagined this situation in a thousand years—Elara, Reina, and himself entangled in something far more complicated than simple companionship. But that was something Zedd would never see coming. And maybe that was for the best.

Zedd leaned forward, his gaze hardening slightly. "Okay, okay. You two can stick beside me, but I won't leave you. Not now, not ever."

Elara's smirk returned. "We'll see how long that lasts."

Zedd didn't respond to that. Instead, he stood, pushing his chair back with a sharp scrape. "Let's get moving. We've got work to do. Stick close. And don't get any ideas."

As Zedd led the way out of the tavern, Elara and Reina followed behind, their eyes on him. Zedd could feel the weight of their gazes on him, one filled with doubt, the other with something more complicated. He wasn't sure where things were going with them, but for now, he would focus on keeping them safe. And maybe, just maybe, if he kept his promises, things might get easier.

He didn't know what the future held, but for the first time in a long time, Zedd felt a strange sense of hope stir within him

. And that, in itself, was a dangerous thing.