The meeting happened without Damon in the room.
That was decided by Ester, accepted by Morgana, and considered a moderate offense by Damon. He stayed in the room, sitting on the bed, with his wrist bandaged, listening to footsteps in the corridor and trying not to do exactly what everyone expected him to do: stand, go to the door, and pretend he was only walking by chance.
He did not.
That irritated him.
Ester, sitting near the window with the book on her lap, noticed.
"You are feeling virtuous for obeying."
"I am feeling trapped."
"It is similar."
"It is not."
"For you, it is."
Damon looked at her. "Are you going to watch me all night?"
"Yes."
"That sounds terrible for both of us."
"I agree."
"Then why are you doing it?"
"Because you are worse without supervision."
He had no way to refute that without lying.
