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I corrected it.

“I do not know.”

Better.

Worse.

Talia did not rescue me from it.

“I have known what Ghost requires,” I said. “I know how to be useful there. I know what is expected.”

“And Veyr?”

I looked at her.

“I do not know what is expected of him anymore.”

Her arms lowered.

That was the most honest thing I had said in days.

Possibly years.

She came closer.

Not close enough to touch.

I did not trust myself with that yet.

“I was angry because you hid an option from me. Not because you had fear,” she said.

“I know.”

Her mouth tightened. “Do you?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

She studied my face for several seconds. “You keep thinking the problem is that you were afraid.”

“It contributed.”

“No.” She shook her head. “The problem was that you made my decision around your fear.”

I looked toward the terminal. “That is accurate.”

Talia exhaled. “God, I hate when you agree like that.”

“I can disagree if you prefer.”

That almost earned a smile.

Almost.

Then it disappeared.

“You still don’t get to do it again.”

“I understand.”