"No," Liend said again, his eyes locked on Kiana—seeking and receiving reassurance. Her hand gently caressed his. It gave him courage.
"You heard me, Rissa," he said, voice firmer now.
"You listened right."
There was a pause.
"Liend…" Rissa's voice trembled on the other end.
"You must be—" she faltered, struggling to grasp words.
"You're not… right. Are you under some kind of influence?"
She needed something—anything—to explain it away.
But Liend shook his head.
"No, Rissa. I'm in my right mind," he said.
"Never been more clear."
Kiana's hand still soothed him gently, her presence calm, grounding. In the silence that followed, a shift began—realization dawning in Rissa's voice.
Then came the snap.
"Liend!" she yelled, her tone cracking, shrill and sharp now.
"You must be out of your goddamn mind," she snapped.
"If you think you can ignore my calls for one day and then suddenly say you're not in the mood to continue this relationship…"
