Lila lowered her hands slowly once Sophie's mace dropped a few inches, though the light in its eyes hadn't faded yet, still pulsing that same steady blue.
"Sorry," Lila said, quieter now. "Should've knocked. Didn't want anyone seeing me come in here, honestly."
Sophie set the mace down carefully, her heart still hammering against her ribs. "What are you doing here, Lila. It's late. It's really, really late."
"Wanted to talk. Just us." Lila stayed near the door, hands loose at her sides, none of the sharp edges from the cell conversation left in her posture tonight. Something softer had settled into her, or maybe it was just exhaustion wearing the same clothes as sincerity. "I wanted to say sorry. For the last couple weeks. Genuinely, not the version I gave you down in that cell."
Sophie didn't say anything right away, just watched her, still catching her breath.
