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Harald grimaces. “Afraid not.”
“Oh.” I bite my cheek. She’s been gone for four days. She had said she’d be here to help see me to the throne. I wish she had left me a note, but I’m sure she had a good reason to leave. I’m just really sad she’s not here. I push the feeling aside. I can tell her all about it later.
“I’m sure she’ll make it in time, love. She knows how important it is to you,” Orshana says.
I shrug. “It’s okay. I know she’s busy.”
“It’s also okay to be upset,” she says.
“I know. I’m not though. Zyla is the Grand High Witch. She needs to do what she needs to do, but I do wish she was here.”
“I’ll take her eye, if it helps.” Lagertha studies her nails. From what I’ve learned about trulls, offering to mutilate someone on my behalf means that Lagertha has started to like me.
That’s enough to rip some of the sadness away. “That’s nice of you to offer, but I think she can keep her eyes.”
“I wish there were a way for your parents to see how beautiful you look.” Orshana shakes her head. “Too bad we can’t magic them here.”
I press my lips together and nod, blinking back tears. She’s here with her kids and she loves them so much. So openly. Even when she’s teasing or scolding, there’s no doubting how much they mean to her. My throat burns as I swallow.
“Mom, you made her cry,” Orlena snaps.
Orshana places her hand on her neck. “I’m so sorry, Daisy. I didn’t mean to make you sad.”
“Um. It’s okay, but I think I need a minute.”
“Okay, we’ll go.” She gestures to the girls.
“Actually, you guys should stay. I’m going for a short walk and then I’ll be back and we can head out together.”
“Okay, but don’t go too far.” She eyes me like she’s scared I might run.
“I won’t. I only need some air.” I slip through the room and out of the door, shutting it softly behind me just in time.
You were a mistake.
We had so many plans, but then we had you.
A fat tear slips down my cheek and my throat aches, begging me to release the sob that’s lodged in my chest. I blink back the tears and fan my face. I’ve always hated grieving the parents I never had. Part of me feels like they don’t deserve my sadness, but it isn’t for them. It’s for little Daisy. The girl who wished more than anything that they’d give her hugs and kiss her cheek. The little girl who wished to hearI love youbefore bed every night. For the Daisy who ended up craving love so much she scared off potential boyfriends and even friends.
I hate how they made me desperate.
I hate how they never bothered to ask where I’d been.
I hate how they’d never save me a plate of dinner if I came home late.
But most of all, I hate how much I don’t hate them. Some fucked up part of me still loves them.
I won’t let them ruin this night. Not after everything else they’ve ruined. Setting off in a random direction, I count my breaths to get a hold of myself. I turn down a corridor I’ve never been down. I’m sure there are pretty decorations on the wall but I can’t see them through watery eyes.No crying.Usually I can control my emotions. I turn down another corridor. Today is a special day though, and those are typically harder. My chest is heavy, and it’s hard to swallow, but I force myself to count my breaths. I’m so focused on that, I don’t notice the vibration of the spell getting stronger and stronger until it’s almost painful.
I suck in a breath right as a hand clamps over my mouth and a big green hand bands around my waist. I scream and thrash, trying to break out of the hold, but the ogre is stronger than me.
“I can see why my son likes you,” the king says around a laugh. “But, unfortunately, I can’t have you getting inside of his head.” He rips a piece off my dress and I snarl, bucking against him. The fabric flutters to the floor, and I brace for the worst, but he doesn’t touch me the way I expect. No. He brings a vial of sparkling liquid toward my face.
Zyla’s transportation spell. How did he get that? That’s a silly question. I know how. She didn’t leave without telling me goodbye. The king must’ve done something to her. There’s no way she’d give him this spell.
And her protective charm can’t stop him from using it on me because the tincture was crafted by her hand. The spell won’t stop her own magic and if the king has Zyla, no one will know I’m in danger.
“Heard this’ll send you back home. Let’s see if the witch is as good as she says she is.” His hand slips down to clutch my chin with a vice grip. He shoves his thumb into my mouth, and I gag around it. He forces my head back. His eyes are the exact shade of navy as Orcus’ but there’s not an ounce of decency in them.
