Back at Eryx's mansion, Eryx slips quietly into the bedroom, moving as silently as possible as he slides under the covers.
He hopes to fool Jess into believing he's been in bed all night. But Jess hasn't slept, not even for a moment.
His body is sick with restlessness. His mind won't stop spinning. The image of Tanner keeps flashing in his head, how Tanner looked so drained, so utterly hurt, as Jess walked away.
Jess hates that it bothers him. He hates that Tanner's obvious pain affects him, more than that, it hurts him.
The way Tanner's eyes had silently begged for him to stay, burns in his chest like a fresh wound.
But he remembers Tanner Didn't even think twice the days he used to ask him to leave. He shoves Tanner aside, not willing to think about about him.
He attempts to shift his focus. He reminds himself of the urgent matter at hand, the one he's been avoiding just as much: he still hasn't chosen a new leader.
