To someone like Talia, who wasn't built for direct combat, all of that probably looked terrifying rather than impressive.
And without the protection that came with officially belonging to the clan, the fear of dying permanently would've naturally become even worse over time.
Anyone in her situation would've been worried.
Scared too.
And the more I thought about it, the more guilty I felt for not recognizing that earlier. I had been so focused on survival, expansion, new threats, the King's Games, and everything happening around the clan that I completely overlooked something that should've been simple.
I never gave her the minimum reassurance she needed to feel safe.
"You know what?" I said after a moment. "Your fear is justified."
Talia looked slightly surprised by the immediate agreement.
"And I'm genuinely sorry I forgot about you," I continued honestly. "I really am."
I exhaled lightly before shaking my head at myself.
