The stories eased the heaviness in my chest, if only for a moment.
Tavrik appeared in the doorway sometime later, drawn in by the sound of our muffled laughter.He settled into the chair across from us, sharing tales of his own mischief.
There was something about him—something that lingered in the depths of his eyes that he’d never given voice to.
I wound a lock of hair around my finger, muscles twisting with nervous energy.
“Tavrik,” I hesitated, tongue darting out to wet my lips.“What made you leave the king’s Guard?”
The light drained from his face.A change rippled through him, his posture taut as he studied me.
“It wasn’t a decision I made lightly,” he began.“The Guard was my life for twenty years.We were brothers, bound by oath and blood spilled together.”He looked past me, seeing beyond the walls of the room.“I was fiercely loyal, even when doubts festered in the corners of my mind.Even when I questioned whether or not what we enforced was truly right.”
He uncrossed his legs and leaned forward.“There were so many things we were made to witness.To ignore.But there was one night that destroyed everything I thought I knew.”His fingers drummed a nervous pattern on his thigh.“I was stationed within the king’s palace when I heard something that broke me completely.”
A visible shudder passed through him, rippling across his broad shoulders.“Screams.A woman’s screams.”
“I followed the sound to the king’s private chambers.He was—” he paused, searching for the words that wouldn’t taint the air, “forcinghimself on one of the women who worked in his household.Her cries… they still ring in my ears at night, haunting me with what I couldn’t prevent.”
Theo shook his head in disbelief, face paling.
“I barged in, knowing full well what I would find, but I feigned ignorance.Acted as though I thoughthewas the one in trouble.I thought I could stop it.I thought me being there would be enough.”
His voice cracked.“But I was too late.”
My hand flew to my chest.
“He’d killed her.”
The silence in the room was deafening, broken only by our shallow breathing.
Tavrik’s eyes had gone glassy, unfocused.“He stood over her body, his hands still wrapped around her neck.Her eyes—” he exhaled shakily.“They were lifeless.Staring at me.Throughme.As if asking why I hadn’t come sooner.”
“He stepped over her like she was nothing and ordered me to clean up his mess.”A bitter laugh escaped him.“I just stood there, staring at him.”
His gaze lifted to mine, eyes clearing.
“When I joined the Guard, I swore an oath.Not just to protecthim, but to protect his realm and its people.And yet, I was expected to serve a monster who preyed on those he should have sheltered.”
“So, I ran.He ordered the guards to find me and kill me.And my brothers—the men I trained with, fought alongside for years… they didn’t hesitate.They didn’t even question why.”
I couldn’t stop myself.I leapt toward him, nearly stumbling in my haste, and wrapped my arms around him.I pressed my face against the solid wall of his chest, holding him with every ounce of strength I possessed.
He remained rigid, every muscle locked in place.Then with a hard exhale that ruffled my hair, he encircled his arms around me and crushed me against him.I pulled back just enough to look at him, my hands gripping his forearms.
“You did the right thing, Tavrik,” I said.“You are braver and more loyal than anyone I’ve ever known.”
Theo cleared his throat loudly, an exaggerated sound that broke the tension.
I rolled my eyes, turning to him with a half-smile.“You’re brave too, Theo.”
His eyes danced renewed mischief.“See?Was that so difficult?”
Three soft knocks interrupted the moment.
Our heads swivelling toward the sound.
Theo shot to his feet and cracked the door open.Mira peeked inside, wisps of her hair framing her face and cheeks already dusted with pink.
