The hallway had fallen quiet after the long day. The air inside the house felt warmer now that everyone had eaten, bandaged up, and found their places to rest. For a while, everything had been calm.
Jai stood awkwardly outside Grandpa Kailun's room. His fingers fidgeted with the hem of his shirt, his eyes flicking to the other side of the hallway—to Shao's door.
The one Shao now shared with Qui Yue.
Jai didn't know why, but the thought sat heavy in his chest. A weird prickling sensation spread beneath his skin. It wasn't like he thought Qui Yue would do anything—no, it wasn't that. Shao wouldn't let it happen either. But still...
He bit his lip, hard enough to taste a faint tinge of metal.
What was it he didn't like? The idea of Shao being somewhere he couldn't see him? The thought of Shao sleeping next to someone else, even just on the floor?
He rubbed his forehead, frustrated.
"Jai?" a low whisper called out. He jumped slightly.
