I felt a sharp pang of anxiety as my mind scrambled for an excuse—anything that would get him off my back.
"I–uhm…" I hesitated, then blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "I was going to hunt monsters!"
The words sounded hollow the moment they left my mouth.
Kairos raised an eyebrow slowly, the corner of his mouth twitching as if he were mildly entertained by my attempt. "Really?" he asked. His gaze flicked briefly to the darkness around us. "Then I'll go with you."
"No!" I answered far too quickly.
The moment the word left my mouth, I knew I'd messed up.
Kairos' eyes narrowed, the faint amusement draining away as suspicion took its place. He straightened slightly, studying me with a focus that made my skin prickle.
"I–I want to go alone," I added, trying to recover. I straightened my posture, forcing confidence into my tone—but the slight tremor in my voice betrayed me completely.
His gaze grew more intense. "Then that's exactly why I should go with you."
