By the time Silas finished patching him up, Aiden felt like a new man—or as close to it as someone in his position could. He stood, testing his balance, and gave Silas a wary nod.
"So what now?" he asked.
Silas smiled faintly. "Now, you rest. Tomorrow, we talk about what's next."
Aiden raised an eyebrow. "And if I decide I don't want to be part of whatever this is?"
Silas's smile didn't waver. "Then you're free to leave. No strings attached."
Silas' words caught Aiden off guard. He had spent so long under the thumb of people who saw him as property, as a tool to be used and discarded. Freedom was a foreign concept—but for the first time, it felt within reach.
"Guess we'll see," he muttered, brushing past Silas and heading toward the room that Silas pointed to him.
As he disappeared down the hallway, Silas leaned against the counter, his expression thoughtful. Luna's voice in his head broke the silence.
{You think he'll stay?}
