Page 137 of Infernal Bonds

I stepped down the hall and tapped the phone screen, bringing the phone to my ear.

After a few rings, Ezra’s deep voice came over the line. “Raelynn?”

He sounded almost confused to hear from me—which made sense. Calling him instead of one of the others probably seemed weird. He and I existed in the same space amicably, but we never sought each other out.

I laughed a little nervously. “Yeah, it’s me.”

“What’s wrong?”

“So you know how we agreed I’d stick to the house and palace and not wander the sanctum or anywhere else?” He said nothing, clearly waiting for me to continue. “Well, your mom said I can go with Rinlora somewhere.”

“Somewhere being?”

“Outside Alonia.” I glanced back at Rinlora. “I dunno where.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Excuse me?”

“It isn’t safe for you to wander into the city, much less outside the city walls. You’re unfamiliar with Elyrdin.”

“Technically, I’ve been outside the city.”

“Raelynn,” he said, voice low and stern, making me straighten. “You said Mother approved of this?”

“Yeah, that’s what Rinlora said.”

He paused for a moment, and I almost thought he’d hung up until he said, “I will call you back. Do not leave the palace until I call you.”

The line went dead, and I stared at the phone, blinking a few times.

“Are we good to go?” Rinlora stepped up beside me.

“I… don’t know.” I looked at her. “Ezra said he’ll call me back.”

“He’s worried about you.”

I snorted. “He just wants to boss me around like everyone else.”

She shook her head. “I didn’t hear everything, but he wouldn’t stay on the phone that long.”

I had noticed a shift in Ezra.

He’d gone from issuing direct orders, brooking no argument, to listening to my reservations and offering compromises. He’d even started recognizing when I wasn’t happy about his decisions, often proposing a concession before I could argue.

I appreciated the shift, but wasn’t sure what to make of it.

The phone rang, and I put it to my ear. “Yeah?”

“Mother says Rinlora isn’t taking you far. I want you to check in when you reach your destination, again when you’re leaving, and once you’re back in the city. I will meet you at the palace to escort you home after your call.”

Rinlora raised her brows as if to say, “See?” With her standing so close, she heard everything this time.

“Fine,” I said with a sigh. It wasn’t as if I couldn’t give him that much. Though it felt a little mother-hen-ish.

“Raelynn,” he said, voice softening in a way that immediately caught my attention. “Be careful.”

I stared at the phone when the line went dead again. He hadn’t given me a chance to respond, but I wasn’t sure what I would have said to that.