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I didn’t want to be in this stuffy, crowded palace anymore. What I wanted more than anything was to shift into something small and quick, something that would let me go and hide, be alone and away from everything and everyone else.
But I couldn’t do that. If my branch leg vanished when I shifted, if the wound reopened as I turned into an animal, I would be stuck. Too injured to shift back. And then what?
Ash had managed to make me shift back before—after the Carlin had torn my leg off with her teeth. His voice had broken through the disjointed thoughts, the shock and fear and pain, to force my body back to him.
But again, Ash wasn’t here.
I strode towards the front doors, clutching the bottle of wine in my fist. The guards hesitated before reluctantly moving forward to open them for me. But one of them didn’t return to their post, instead following me outside as the huge doors eased shut behind us.
I tensed, hand whipping down for my blade, my fingers missing the hilt at first until I fumbled with it. I spun around unsteadily, but before I could unsheathe it, a familiar voice spoke.
“Prince Lonan.” The tone was easy, relaxed, and I blinked when I realised it was the guard from earlier. The one I’d practised with. “Going for a walk?”
I kept my hand on my blade, straightening up and eyeing her blankly. “Yes.”
“Perhaps you’d like some company.”
“No. I wouldn’t.”
Sanya chuckled and inclined her head. “I think it might be wise if I accompanied you.”
I sniffed, turning back to make my way towards the living steps. “And why is that.”
“You’re drunk,” she said flatly.
“No I’m n—” The words got stuck in my throat, which made my already hot face grow warmer. “I don’t need an escort. I can manage,” I muttered instead.
Another mildly infuriating chuckle. “True, but I think I’ll accompany you anyway. It’s a nice night for a walk.”
I could hear her descending the steps behind me, and I whirled around to glare at her, stumbling before I righted my footing.
“What is your game? Whatever you and the other guards may be planning, it won’t work,” I snarled. “I might not be my mother’s assassin anymore, but that does not mean I won’t kill anyone who tries to touch me or trick me.”
Sanya stopped, eyeing me calmly. “I’m not trying to trick you. The guards have no plan against you, Prince Lonan.”
“Then why won’t you leave me alone?” I snapped, even though now she was here… I wasn’t sure whether I really did want to be alone.
Her thick shoulders rose in a tiny shrug. “I just thought you might like some company.”
“I don’t trust you,” I bit out.
“That’s fine,” she replied calmly. “I don’t trust people easily either.”
I stared at her, nostrils flaring as I breathed hard. I could already tell I wasn’t going to be able to get rid of her—she seemed infuriatingly stubborn, just like Ash. She gazed back patiently, wide shoulders relaxed beneath her armour.
“If you try anything at all, I’ll cut your fucking head off before you can blink.” The words weren’t quite as threatening as I’d hoped, coming out slurred and blended together.
Sanya inclined her head in a graceful nod. “I don’t doubt it, Prince Lonan.”
Huffing in disgust, I turned and carried on stumbling down the living steps, bringing the bottle up to my mouth to take a deep gulp. Sanya followed me in silence, and neither of us said a word as we left the palace behind, as we walked through lush fields and flowering meadows, following the rushing river that glittered in the moonlight.
When the forest edge loomed up ahead, she cleared her throat and finally spoke, her voice guarded.
“I—King Ash gave the impression that it would not be wise for you to leave seelie—”
“I’m not leaving,” I interrupted dully. “I won’t go into the forest.”
I just wanted to be near it. As close to unseelie as I could get. The air was already cooler here, making my shoulders slump with relief as I breathed it in. Mist crept from the treeline, like smoky fingers reaching for me, tempting me to follow them back in.
