Page 101 of Ronan

He never looks my direction again, but gives a single nod of his head.

Stepping back out into the sun, Cameron worries his lip. “He’s agreed to let me help him. If we can’t find thekey to that cage, we’ll need a saw strong enough to cut through those bars… but I really don’t want to subject him to that noise. I’m not sure he could handle it.”

“There were keys hanging in the storage tent, and I collected any useful tools I found,” Cameron says, and I nod, letting him lead the way as we head back towards the common area.

A long row of hooks hangs on the wall, with a dozen keyrings loaded with keys. “Do you mind putting a plate of food together for him while I take these and attempt the lock?”

“Of course.” His voice is choked and expression heavy as he walks towards the kitchen.

The Drüinae jumps when I walk back inside his tent. “I did not mean to startle you. May I come closer so I can try to open the cage?” He gives another single nod, though I don’t miss the way he flinches as I approach.

The pile of keys is substantial, so I pick one at random and stick it in the lock, unsurprised when it doesn’t work. “What is your name?” I ask as I select the next key, but he shakes his head and looks away. Either he doesn’t know, or he refuses to tell me, so I drop the matter, not wanting to push him.

After a few minutes of no luck, Cameron walks inside with a variety of dried foods and a bottle of water. He hesitates at the door, and I turn to the Drüinae. “My mate—” His eyes snap to mine at the word, his gaze sharper as he stares. I pause for a moment, but he stays silent. “He has brought food and water. Is it alright if he brings it closer?”

His head dips in another single nod, and Cameron’s eyes shimmer as he assesses his condition. Cam’s smile isgentle, so very cautious, as he reaches through the bars. Careful not to startle him with quick movements, he takes his time as he places everything on the ground.

A single tear rolls down his cheek as he walks out the door.

The Drüinae inches closer, inspecting the food before taking a long sip of water. I give him as much privacy as I can while I work, not allowing my attention to veer from the task at hand, and eventually, he eats.

Slowly, my pile of potential keys dwindles, while the stack of rejects grows into a small mountain. Less than a dozen are left when one of them clicks in the lock. Our eyes meet, his guard up once again.

“This door is open. I will step outside with my mate so you may have privacy. When you’re ready, I’ll show you where you can wash, and we can find you clean clothes to wear.” His eyes bore into mine, expecting the worst.

They tell me he believes this is all a sick joke, where he’s the center of a cruel punchline. He's waiting for me to be the only type of monster he knows.

“We’ll be outside,” I repeat, retreating until the canvas hits my back and I step out into the sun.

Cam’s eyes still glisten as he approaches, craning his neck to see inside, but the flap blocks his view. “Did you get it open?”

“Yeah.” He doesn’t comment on the emotion in my voice, only lays his head on my shoulder and takes my hand. Silence stretches as we wait, only punctuated by the sound of the breeze whipping through the leaves.

Cameron shifts between his feet, picking at his jeans. “What happens now?”

“I told him to join us when he’s ready and we’ll show him where he can get clean.”

“What if he doesn’t come out?”

I hesitate, a heavy sigh pushing from my lungs. “We have to respect his wishes.”

“We can’t abandon him,” he argues, voice rising. “Who knows how long he’s been in that cage? What they’ve done to him? If we leave him out here to die, we are no better than them!”

“We’re no better than them if we force him to doanything, Cameron!” I shout, and he jerks back, surprised by the venom in my voice. “Anything at all! His autonomy has been ripped away, and he deserves to make his own decisions. If it is his choice to starve to death, I will not be the one to shove the food down his throat and steal that freedom again.”

Cameron’s cheeks and neck flush a deep red, an internal battle playing out in real time on his face. “I fucking hate this. I hate this whole gods forsaken world.”

Bitter resignation is written all over him as I pull him into a hug, his head shaking as it smushes into my chest. “I know,” I whisper.

So, we wait.

And wait some more.

Enough time goes by that I tell myself we have to get moving, and still, no noise comes from inside the tent. A frustrated lump builds in my throat, knowing how hard it will be to leave him behind.

Cameron will hate himself, hateme, for not doing more.

Just as I open my mouth to speak, the flap inches back. Pale green eyes meet mine as he hesitates, then finallysteps into the sun. He’s somehow tinier outside the cage, squinting those giant eyes against the bright morning.

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