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“I heard the fighting and thought you might need help.”
“I’m fine.”
Zyla arches an eyebrow. “You’re blue instead of green.”
“I don’t need—”
“Let her heal you,” Daisy says and I deflate, more than willing to do whatever she wants.
“Fine,” I grunt and take a seat in the common space between our room and the others’.
Zyla rolls her eyes and starts working. I stare at the ground, avoiding Daisy’s gaze as she paces in front of me. The witch hums and touches my cheek. A soft tingle spreads across my face as she infuses her healing magic into my skin until the aches are gone and the surface cuts are healed.
There are some wounds magic can’t fix. Wounds that have been gouging deeper and deeper with every passing year.
The witch leaves my side and goes to Daisy. “Are you okay?”
“A little rattled.”
“Did you watch the whole thing?” Zyla asks.
I’d forgotten that during the fight, people would be monitoring Daisy to see how she handled it. A squeamish princess won’t earn the respect that’s needed to become queen.
“Yes.” Daisy’s voice is shaky and the bond trembles with her unease.
“Good. That’s good,” Zyla breathes.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the two women embrace. Zyla murmurs a few things before leaving us alone in the common room. Daisy’s feet pad toward me, coming into my line of sight as she steps between my legs.
“Orcus.”
I want to say something, but I’m at a loss. How do I explain any of it? How do I tell her I’m not the ogre she thinks I am? I’m not good. I’m not nice. I was raised to be a warrior, and I’ll never be anything more than that.
She sighs. “Please look at me.”
I shake my head.
“Stubborn, grumpy monster,” she growls before dropping to her knees between my legs and peering up at me with wide green eyes. My heart beats a little faster. Once she has me snared, I can’t look away no matter how much I want to hide from her scrutinizing gaze.
“Are you okay?” she asks softly.
“Zyla’s magic healed me.”
Daisy narrows her eyes. “You know what I mean.”
I clench my jaw, trying my damndest to ignore that ache in my heart.
She watches me, seeing through every shield I try to erect, and her face softens. “I don’t know what is worse: having absentee parents or having to physically fight them.” She releases a sigh and climbs into my lap. Her head rests on my chest, and I wrap my arms around her, needing to hold her. “I spent my whole life searching for parental love… and while I never found it, I did learn a few things. Most of all, a good parent, one that really cares about you, would never hurt you. They’d never force you into situations you want nothing to do with.”
“He’s the king, too. He has to do things a certain way.”
A soft growl tears from her lips. “I know you’re not trying to justify what happened out there.”
“Things are complicated.” Things are horrible.
She scoffs. “No, Orcus. They’re not. He’s your father. Yeah, he’s a king, but he’s still your father. You didn’t want to fight. Your sisters and mother didn’t want you two to fight. What did he tell you that made you do it?”
“Nothing.”
