Precious Seconds

Rafe and I exit the cells hand in hand, while Quinn’s echoing wails of fury are muffled by the cell door. My body relaxes with every step we take away from her; I feel the ice in my veins melt away at his touch.

We leave out of the underground prison the same way we entered, nodding to the guard at the entrance before locking them inside and ascending the stairs. It’s a different kind of quiet than before. Rafe’s energy is relaxed and he’s practically beaming beside me, squeezing my hand every few steps.

“What?”

“Nothing.” He grins down at me.

“Tell me,” I press, matching his smile with my own.

He releases my hand, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me into his side. “I’m happy.”

“Because I didn’t break down and let her pathetic words hurt me?”

“No—I mean, yes. That’s also wonderful,” Rafe chuckles. “But also, this was the first time you…”

Rafe stops in the middle of the empty packhouse atrium. The low afternoon light cuts through the stained glass windows and paints his fac