In the mirror, I observed the reflection of my bare body that felt so foreign. My curves had slimmed down so much that I could feel the bones of my hips starting to protrude. Mystomach that had never been completely flat, now sucked in towards my lungs. My finger traced the outlines of my ribs as I puckered my lips, my once rounded cheeks now pale and slightly sunken in.
Sickly was the only word to describe my new figure. Though I used to be self-conscious about my curves, I missed not being able to feel every bone in my body. I could only imagine how I’d look in a few weeks if I kept up like this.
I should have stopped being so stubborn and gone to Sebastian for help. I could ask him to start our wielding schedule up again, but my pride wouldn't let me. He didn't need me, so I didn't need him, either. At least that's what I told myself. But it was bullshit and I knew it.
I pulled a cotton top over my head—the baggy fabric long enough to be worn with just underwear—then went to climb into bed. My vision wavered as I stepped for the mattress and my balance escaped me. My knees hit the ground, and not having the strength to stay on them, I fell sideways, landing on my hip bone.
Sitting up, I groaned in pain and watched a bruise form on my knee. “Fuck,” I cursed, fed up with feeling so weak.
While down, I caught a glimpse of something underneath my bed, shimmering from the moonlight that passed through my window panes. I reached my arm out, grabbing hold of the hair clip Pia had let me borrow for the gala.
I turned the accessory around in my palm. Pia received the clip when she was a young girl. She said that she wasn't upset, but I knew it bothered her when we thought it was lost at the party.
The clock ticked on top of my wardrobe. It was almost ten-thirty, but Pia was right down the hall in Kohen's room, and I didn’t want to wait to give the clip back to her.
Using the edge of my mattress, I pulled up and steadied myself on my feet. The throbbing in my head was yet to subside, but I powered through it, as always.
I cracked open my door and peered into the hall to make sure there were no soldiers around to catch a glimpse of my underwear. The corridor was dark and silent, so I tiptoed down the hall and knocked on Kohen's door, knowing that Pia would be the one to open it. The knob turned and she slipped out the room, closing the door gently behind her so as to not wake Kohen.
“Everything okay?” she asked, her brows drawn together.
I tossed her the hair clip, and a smile tugged on her cheeks. “You found it?” she cheered, unable to hide her joy.
“Under my bed.”
“Why didn't we think to look there.” She chuckled. Her eyes roamed over my body briefly before returning to my face. She looked as though she had something to say, but couldn't bring herself to say it.
I raised an eyebrow at her. “What?”
“You look different lately,” she stuttered.
“That noticeable?”
She gulped and nodded slowly. “Are you?—”
“I’m fine,” I cut her off.
“Maeve…Maybe you should talk to Sebastian. Go back to your old training schedule.”
“No,” I said flatly.
“I’m worried?—”
“Pia, please. I’m fine. I promise. Okay?”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “You are barely eating and?—”
“Okay, goodnight.” My dainty fingers waved her goodbye as I removed myself to go back to my room. I heard Kohen’s door shut just before I found myself frozen in the middle of the hallway.
Sebastian’s legs came to their own halt when he noticed me walking towards him. He was heading to his room, and unfortunately I had to pass him to get to mine.
“I picked quite the night to roam the halls in nothing but ashirt and underwear,” I muttered before sealing my lips. Grabbing the edges of my shirt, I pulled it down further as I resumed walking. I was covered enough, but one wrong move and I risked flashing him more skin than I’d prefer to.
Head down, I moved to squeeze by him, but he reached out and grabbed my wrist, stopping me from going any further. The contact sent a jolt of electricity through my body. It didn't matter how much time had passed or how much anger had been stored within me. My attraction to him was magnetic. It was more than just physical. He was embedded in my soul.
“You’re bleeding,” he said. His expression was bland. Emotionless.
“Huh?”
