IVY'S POV
"Thank you."
The words sounded strange coming from him, almost foreign, like they didn't belong on his tongue. I sat there, stunned into silence, my heart stuttering in my chest as Nicholas stood up without another word. He tugged his chessboard to his side, the pieces clicking softly, and walked away into the shadows of the garden.
I remained seated for a long moment, staring at the empty space where he had been. What just happened? Nicholas Vault did not say thank you. He did not show cracks. He did not allow anyone to see anything beneath the cold, unyielding surface he wore like armor. Yet for one fleeting second tonight, something almost human had slipped through.
I didn't know what to do with that.
