Toristirred in my arms, a soft whisper escaping her lips, “Abraxas…”
“I’mhere, little bird.”Iplaced my cheek on the top of her head, but she shook, spinning her head around.
“Kaleos, is he alright?”
“Yes, you saved him.”Inodded to the wagon beside us.Therest of the troops had caught up to me asIhad carriedKaleosandToriout of that abandoned temple.Kaleoswas unconscious but stable as we made our way back.
Torirelaxed into me, andIreveled in the feeling of her there, safe with me.
“Theothers,LadyBogata?”
“Allsafe, and not much worse for wear.Youare the oneIam concerned about.”Icarefully lifted her wrist.Theskin was healed where the shackles had burned her, butIcould still see the raw skin.Herwounded side had closed almost immediately once they had been removed.Shetwisted her arm, observing the marks.
“Notso different from the marks you left on me when we first met.”Shamefilled me.Sheturned to see my face, her eyes laughing, but that smile faded. “Abraxas,Iwas just joking.”
Ididn’t answer,Icouldn’t.Instead,Ijust tucked my riding cloak around her as the wind picked up.Shewas right, of course.Ihad done the same— treated her the same.Ihad been so desperate to have her, thatItruly had been her captor.Andright now, that same instinct, that same desire to lock her away begged me to keep her safe, keep her mine.
ButIhad already driven her to the edge once with my control andIknew, despite how muchIwanted it, thatIcouldn’t do that again.Therealization felt like a ticking clock, counting down my moments with her.
“Probablyanother hour toXyryet.Rest,Tori,I’llwatch over you.”Atleast, for now.
* * *
Oryxhad fussedoverToribut deemed that she would likely be fine with a good night’s rest.Kaleos, on the other hand, needed more attention.Torihad sat with him through most of it, holding his hand asOryxcleaned his wound and dressed him.
I’dtried to give them space, despite the seething jealousy that filled my heart whenToriwould hold his hand and stroke his hair gently.Ifound myself down at the beach, dueling more thanIhad in decades just to keep my mind occupied.
WhenKaleoswas near the end of his recovery,Iapproached the barrack where he was being kept, to hear them both laughing.
“Youknow,I’mhappy to go harder on you in our duels if it means you get to spend more time here withhim.”Toridrew out the last word, all teasing.
“Tori, you have already cut my ego down to the size of a pixie’s nut.Idon’t need any more damage, thank you very much.”
Theylaughed again, andIthought about howIhad never heard her laugh like that with me.
Irounded the corner andKaleosgrew pale, and despite myself,Ienjoyed seeing it.Toristood, suspicion growing in her eyes.
“It’stime for your debrief,LieutenantKaleos.Princess,I’mafraid we will need privacy. “
“Why?Iwas there too.”
“It’simportant to get separate stories,I’llcome get yours whenI’mdone here.”Wehadn’t discussed it yet, what she might have seen.Itwas actually the longestIhad been without her since that night ofLupercalia.
Sheheld my stare, but then to my surprise, gave me a nod.ShesqueezedKaleos’ hand one more time and left the room.
Isat down in the chair she had vacated.ToKaleos’ credit, he held his expression neutral, butIcould smell the fear rolling off of him.
“YourMajesty,I—”
“First,LieutenantKaleos,Iwould like to thank you.”Hefroze. “Thankyou for being there with her, defending her during the attack.Iknow you wouldn’t be in the state you are if you hadn’t done everything you could for her.”
Henodded, “Ofcourse,YourMajesty, anything forT—for the princess.”Hewas being cautious with me, as he should.Andthat was about all the kindnessIcould muster for a male who still hadTori’sscent all over him.
“Tellme what you remember from the temple.”
“Honestly, not much.Wewere held underground, but afterIwas stabbed,Ican’t recall much.IrememberTor—HerHighnessripping herself free of the wall, and then me as well.Shebeat the guard to a pulp and then dragged me out, but that’s the last thing that is clear.”
Ileaned back in my chair.Mylittle bird of prey.
