Flashback ( PDFDrive )

Sandor’s eyes welled up again. “I care about you too, Miss Foster.
More than I should. That’s why I can’t trust myself to make this
decision.”
“Then talk to your team,” Grady told him. “Sophie’s safe here. Why
don’t you go find Grizel and Lovise? See what they think.”
“But I wouldn’t recommend telling Grizel you were planning to
request reassignment without consulting her,” Alden warned.
“Or that you find her distracting,” Grady added. “I’m sure she’d
have some thoughts about that.”
“Very loud ones,” Alden agreed.
“And more punishments,” Sandor muttered under his breath. “But I
suppose it would be wise to get their insights. You’re sure—”
“No one’s getting anywhere near Sophie right now,” Grady assured
him. “Take as long as you need.”
“But you have to promise you won’t go to Queen Hylda without
telling me,” Sophie added as he headed for the door and she realized
he could choose to never come back, and there’d be nothing she could
do to stop him.
Sandor glanced at her over his shoulder, and she watched his gaze
trace over her bandaged arm again. “I would never leave without
saying goodbye, Miss Foster.”
It wasn’t the vow she’d been looking for.
But it was all he said before he was gone.
“Think we convinced him?” Sophie asked.
“I hope so, kiddo.” Grady brushed a hand down her cheek,
smudging away a tear she hadn’t realized was there. “But it’s hard to
say. Guilt makes us do funny things.”
“It does indeed,” Magnate Leto said quietly.