Adark shadow crossed my heart, andAvlynmust have seen it on my face because their expression softened. “I’msorry.I’mjust rambling.”Theyplaced their hand on my shoulder. “Ifeel better now.Awayfrom the ocean, inside these walls,IknowI’mnot likely to start flopping around at any moment.Thankyou,Pallas.”Theyhit me with a warm smile, andIstared deep into their honey-colored eyes.Mystomach squeezed at the rapt attention and adoration they were showing me.
“Actually,Icame here to thank you,Commander.”
Theyhad saved my life.Iassumed their motives were the same as anyone else who had helped me.Theyhadn’t initiated anything, but that’s how some people were.Thecommander was attractive, so it was no hardship to give it to them.IfIwas being honest,Iwanted it, too.Isqueezed their thigh tighter and pressed my chest against theirs.Myeyelids fell closed.
Immediately, the commander’s hand held me back by my shoulder.Myeyes opened in shock. “Youdon’t have to do that,Pallas.”Avlyn’sface was stern but not unkind.
Ididn’t understand the emotions that darted through me at the rejection, butIfelt my lips twitch.
Theireyes widened. “It’snot thatI’mnot…Idid sayIhad quite a weakness for beautiful women,” they stammered, and a deep blush rose onto their dark cheeks. “It’sjust… after what you’ve been through…”Theireyes widened more and their whole face was red. “Youshould get settled here before… well…”Theywere floundering, and my pride was wounded enough thatIstood rapidly and made my exit.
AsIopened the room,Isurprised myself by calling back, “I’mglad to see you smile again,Commander.”Whatthe hell was that?AsIclosed the door,IheardAvlynflop down on the bed with an aggravated huff.
Istepped outside and foundLieutenantKaleoswith his arm aroundOryx.Thehealer’s red freckles were almost hidden by the deep blush on his cheeks as the brute pulled him close and planted a soft kiss on his forehead.Seeinghim be so gentle with another was really cutting into my image of him as a brute.Icontinued to stare untilOryxnoticed me and gently pushed out of his lover’s arms.Hereached up and scratched the back of his head sheepishly, sending me a soft grin thatIdidn’t reciprocate. “Whatdid you find?Willthe commander be alright?”
Ishot him a confused look. “Youexamined them, don’t you know?”
Heshook his head. “I’mversed in physical healing.Iuse herbs, plants, and the gifts of our world to help people with some knowledge of anatomy.Butmagic…I’veread about the healing that used to be possible when magic still flowed.HowIwishIcould have seen that!Butthat’s not possible anymore…”
Allthree of us lingered on his last sentence.Thebarracks grew quieter, andIknew all the soldiers were listening to us now.Howcould they not after what they had seen on the beach this morning?
“It’snot possible, right, my lady?”Alltheir eyes were on me.WhatwasIsupposed to say?Iwas barely able to handle my own situation, trapped in this castle far away from my home.Trapped?Really?Yes, trapped.Iwas trapped but able to freely wander the palace and the city and able to seeJunany timeIwanted.Iwas trapped because my body didn’t understand that it didn’t have to be afraid of being touched by anyone and everyone.Itwas hard to believe that there might be people who helped me without expecting my body as a reward.Thefreedom chaffs.
Itwas all a trick; it had to be.Theprincess was just waiting for me to slip up and try to escape so she could kill me without remorse.Avlynwas just luring me in with kindness.Ithad worked, andIhad practically thrown myself into their arms.I’msure, in the end, they would be the same as all the others and use me for their own pleasure, nothing more.Andall the soldiers were still fucking staring at me.Iturned down the hall and walked away, not saying a word.
Ireturnedto the library and found the twins huddled over the same tomesIhad left them with.Thestares of the soldiers seemed to follow me back here, andIcouldn’t stand it any longer.
“Whyare you letting me wander freely?What’syour plan,Tori?”Shelooked up at me and let out a small laugh. “It’snot funny.”
Herface grew more serious. “No, it’s not.Iwas just remembering whenIaskedAbraxasthe same thing.”Shestood and walked over to me,Junfollowing behind her. “You’refree,Pallas.Youaren’t a prisoner here.”Thatlittle smile crossed her lips again. “Ifyou want to leave, you can leave.”
Iwas shocked into stillness. “Lettingme go is a terrible idea.”
“Isit?You’vealready had my life in your hands multiple times, and you haven’t harmed me.Anddespite how you feel about me and this kingdom,Iknow you would never harmJun.Besides,Ireally don’t think you are going to leave.”
Icrossed my arms and felt anger stir in my stomach. “Youdon’t know me,Princess.”
Shestarted to respond, butJuninterrupted her. “Pallas, do you really want to leave?”Hiseyes shined with tears.Heknew he would have to choose between me and her ifIdid.Iknew who he would pick.Aftereverything we had been through, he would pick her.Heshould pick her after allIhad done, after all the waysIhad hurt him.Ittore at my heart, andIwas too weak to face it.
Isighed, “No,Idon’t.”
Hesmiled, and the heaviness lifted.Helit up my whole life.Besides, where else wouldIgo?
Isighed and leaned over the tomes they had open on the table. “Didyou find anything?”
Toriflipped a page, then flopped back and pulled a piece of dried meat out of a bag, tearing at it with her teeth.Icringed, thinking about the oils on her fingers smearing the pages of these precious tomes.
“You’dthink the library of theDragonKingdommight have some actual books with useful information about dragons, but no.”Toriheld the dried meat in one hand as she flipped through the pages.Junleaned over and took a massive bite out of the piece. “Hey!”
Toritried to jerk the food back, but her brother held on tightly and grinned around the meat in his teeth.Theprincessstruggled with him gently, but it quickly escalated as he reached to grab the rest of her snacks.
“Getyour own!”Shepushed the side of his face, trying to move him away.
“Yoursare better,” he laughed around the stolen bite.Heflung his whole weight onto her as they continued their tussle.
Itwas so stupid, the stupidest thingIhad ever seen, but my heart seemed to glow.IthinkTorirealized how physicalJunwas letting her be, and a small smile lit up her eyes as she wrestled the food from her twin’s grip, triumphantly shoving the entire piece in her mouth.
Theprince held his hands up in defeat as his sister nearly choked on her prize.Heturned to me. “Wehaven’t been able to find much in these books.Whatdid you want to tell us on the beach?AboutTorinot having magic.”
