My mouth was agape. "How come you didn't tell me?"
Ras threw a nonchalant shoulder in the air. "It was clear that you've drawn the line on that, so I figured it was not my place to ask."
I heard a scoff from behind me, it was Lira's. "But you've figured that you could stick around and find out."
The captain's lips tightened into a straight line in guilt. "Well, yeah… that's part of it, just a little."
I shook my head at him. "I can't believe you were lying the whole time."
"Hey, there's a difference between lying and not invading your desire for privacy," he said, making me rethink what I'd said. "And I did not lie when I told you that I would protect you throughout this travel. I am not someone who goes back on his promises, Rosie."
I bit the inside of my cheek, regret filling me up. What was wrong with me? If anything else, between the two of us I was the one who had tricked him.
I met his eyes. "Forgive me—"
