AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Aren’t you Junis’s, sweet thing?”
That question makes me narrow my eyes. It’s the first one addressed to me, not Ryther, but I take a page out of his book and ignore it thoroughly.
“Did you know she’d come?”
“What’s her core power?”
“What’s her name!”
I straighten my spine, holding on for dear life to the arm by my side, hard enough to bruise. Ryther doesn’t flinch.
They might scare the shit out of me, but they don’t have to know that. I’m a performer. I’ve sung and played for crowds dozens of times per year since I was twelve. This is no different. I take a long inhale and smile.
Schooling my expression, I reply directly to the short, stout man with greenish skin who asked. “Darina. My name is Darina. And I’m from Earth; that’s what you call Ironworld, isn’t it?”
Something tells me I won’t help myself if I let Ryther speak for me. And besides, I’d rather chatter for hours than let anyone read my fears.
“And what is a core power? You’ll have to excuse me. All this is very new to me, you see.” I lift my hand, engulfing their entire world in one flick.
“Well, is there anything you’d good at?” someone asks.
He might as well have said good for.
Ryther discreetly extricates his arm from my tight fingers and steps away.
My head snaps to him, as panic threatens to rise up my throat, but he keeps walking, giving me space. Ryther circles the fire pit slowly, until he’s standing on the other side, right in front of me.
I vow that you’ll be safe in my camp for the night. From anything within and without, myself included.
Did he know I’d have an audience? Son of a bitch, he absolutely did. His wording makes that clear. He could have fucking warned me, dammit. But then again, I would have likely run.
And he also said I’d be safe.
I’ve lost my lifeline.
And then it hits me.
I’ve lost my lifeline. And that was exactly the point. I was holding on to him for dear life, which wouldn’t have looked good for either of us.
He wants me to stand or fall on my own two feet.
Prove I can.
He’s thrown me to the wolves, so that they might all see I don’t need him.
That’s a bald-faced lie, but one I have to sell for all it’s worth. My life might literally depend on it.
I keep my eyes on Ryther. His beauty may have intimidated the hell out of me, but it has its use: it’s mesmerizing, captivating. I absolutely can pretend it’s only the two of us, and tune out the rest.
Yes, he’s dangerous. Yes, he’s stronger than me. Yes, he could likely destroy me in many ways I can’t even conceive, but he’s also the man who knelt before me. Who called me his queen.
His queenling, but same difference. He means the word with a degree of condescension which should have gotten on my nerves, but in truth, I don’t mind it. I’d freak if he actually called me a queen. I’m just a music teacher. If my birth mother was some sort of a leader for these people, it doesn’t signify anything about who or what I am.
I catch those dark eyes across the fire, the stars within bright as ever in the dancing light.
I make myself focus, as instructed. What was the question again?
What am I good at…?
