SIXTY-THREE

"Are you hungry?" Valens asked when we got to the penthouse.

It was exactly how I left it before going to the hospital. It felt so surreal to know that some things remained the same while my life had changed forever.

"No," I answered Valens' question, getting into bed. I burrowed my face into a pillow and closed my eyes, blocking out everything. "Turn off the lights," I muttered. "All of them," I added when he left one light on. He turned it off and the place became pitch black.

"You should have lunch before you sleep off."

"I am not sleeping off," I muttered, turning my face.

"Okay." There was silence after that but it didn't last as long as I would like. "Do you need anything?" I needed him to leave me alone but I wouldn't say that.

"Who trained you?" I raised my head from the pillow. "In combat, that is."

"The head of my father's knights. Why do you ask?" He perched on the bed and I got the wild feeling that he was afraid of me. No, he was uncertain. Not afraid.

"Was he curs