Gloam gently tugged me back, and I could feel his eyes on my face in the low light from our lantern. He reached up and wiped the wetness away with a gentle thumb, then slowly unhooked my mask from behind my ear. It hung there from the other as we stared at each other. Then that thumb drifted down and brushed, achingly soft, over my mouth. My next breath shuddered out of me. “I wish I could kiss you.” My voice was hoarse with longing. “I wish I could see your face, just once. I’m so sorry I won’t get to free you, Gloam.”
