Another sigh escaped me, weary from the endless cycle of thoughts. Part of me was drained from dwelling on everything, while another part, tangled in turmoil, desperately urged my mind to find some clarity. I wasn’t sure if that was even possible. I took a longer drink, hoping the alcohol would soon quiet the storm inside.
“Look,” I started. “I can’t get this out of my mind. Zeno has been my protector all these years, taking me in when I needed help. But that was a long time ago. I’m no longer a teenager searching for direction. Still, he can’t see me any other way, and honestly, it’s overwhelming.”
“Did you try talking to him about it?” he asked.
“Of course, but he appears unable or unwilling to listen to me.”
“Then, what recourse do you have, Daphne? You need to step up and take control of your life.”
I nodded, letting his words sink in.
“I know, I agree,” I said. “I keep thinking about it, but then fear takes over. I have no idea what he might do, Thal. Zeno can be very dangerous when he’s upset. When he feels betrayed, it could escalate to all-out war. And I’m terrified of what that might mean.”
“I understand why you are afraid of him, Daphne,” he said. “I suspected this was going to happen. But eventually, you will need to step out from under his shadow. You can’t keep livinglike this forever, can you? It seems to be consuming you from within.”
“That’s true,” I said, finishing my drink and setting the glass down on a nearby table. “Most days, I just want to run away.”
He nodded, looking over at me. His presence was comforting, and it felt reassuring to open up to him, knowing someone truly listened to my words. I had been trying to make Zeno understand for years without success.
“I’m not surprised, Daphne,” he said. “You’re a smart, strong woman. It’s natural to want your own life. Any woman would. There’s nothing wrong with that. What’s wrong is Zeno’s control over your life, even now. I don’t see why he can’t recognize your true value and worth. You could be so much more than just his pawn.”
He reached over, grasping my hand and squeezing it before intertwining his fingers with mine. It was such a quiet, intimate gesture to hold someone’s hand. We stood like that for a few minutes without speaking, his words echoing in my mind.
Thal possessed a talent for presenting things in the simplest, most straightforward manner. His words had a way of making me feel ordinary, as if the journey I was on was one countless women had walked before me.
It was a comforting thought, a quiet reassurance that I wasn’t alone in my struggles.
Maybe he was right.
I gazed into his eyes, feeling an overwhelming flood of emotions threatening to drown me.
“It’s just a lot,” I whispered, wetness prickling the corners of my eyes.
“I know,beauty,” he rumbled, his voice less like a breeze and more like a landslide—inevitable and heavy. He wasn’t offering only comfort, but a tether.
“I don’t understand why I have to fight him to have a normal life!” I exclaimed, tears spilling over and tracing hot paths down my cheeks.
Thal reached up and brushed a stray tear away, then drew me into his arms. I curled into his embrace, craving his warmth and comfort.
“You shouldn’t have to,” he murmured into my hair.
“I never asked for any of this,” I hissed, the swirling storm of emotions rising inside me.
The anger and sense of unfairness I’d been holding back for so long all exploded like a tidal wave. I had tried so hard to be grateful for Zeno’s help and to act as if my resentment and feelings of helplessness didn’t matter. But deep down, I knew better. Thal’s eyes met mine steadily, seeing through the surface to what was underneath, as clear as day.
“You deserve so much more than the life he’s forced upon you,” he growled, his words filled with anger and a hint of possessiveness that both worried and excited me at the same time.
Was I just considering trading Zeno’s cage for one that belonged to Thal?
I pulled back and searched his eyes.
“Why do you care so much, Thal? Why are you so worried about what’s happening to me? Why are you trying so hard to pull me away from Zeno’s grasp?” My vision blurred further as tears streamed down my face.
Thal looked down at me, his expression softening before he responded. “You think I want to control you? Own you?”
I struggled to find my voice as I stared up at him, unsure of what to say. “I don’t know what to think,” I admitted. “But yes, the thought has crossed my mind.”
He nodded as if he understood, furrowing his brow thoughtfully. “That makes sense. It’s good you’re questioningthat. I’d hate for you to end up in the same situation, just with someone else trying to control everything. Daphne, I want to set you free. Really free. I have no wish to own you.”
