CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

T he prince walked up to me hesitantly. Prince Maksym, or Max as I’ve always called him, was as handsome as ever. His piercing blue eyes contrasted against his deep skin. His long hair was full of tightly wound coils that were twisted into dreadlocks. The bottom of each lock was set in place with a gold clasp, much like a thick ring. Other jewels were woven into his dreads as well. The prince didn’t even need a crown, as his hair was more than enough to show his royalty. He always was one for grandiose appearances.

Max hadn’t changed much since I last saw him three years ago, only that his hair was longer and he looked a little older. He and his mother and sister visited Rimor for an important meeting with my father. I spent most of their visit hanging out with Max. He and his twin sister, Nevaria, were only about three years older than myself, and were soon to turn twenty-three. I looked around, wondering if she was about to walk around the corner as well, but saw no one .

“Aurelia,” Max repeated. “Is it really you?” He took another step toward me, nearly closing the gap. I heard a slight growl escape from Elias as he stepped between us, forcing the prince to stop in his tracks.

“Easy, Elias,” Trybe’s voice broke through the tension. “This is the prince.”

But he remained in a death stare with Max, not seeming to hear Trybe’s warning.

“Elias,” I said gently. Only when I took his hand did he turn to me. “It’s alright. Prince Maksym is a friend.” Elias glanced down at me, and I gave him a pleading look. If I let him trust Trybe with my identity, he could at least trust me with Max. Elias let out a reluctant huff, then stepped back.

My eyes met with the prince’s again. “Hi Max,” I smiled.

Max looked at Elias warily, then back down at me. He nearly matched Elias in height and stature. The muscular prince took a step towards me, and quickly pulled me in for a tight embrace. The tension in my body suddenly released, and I hugged him back.

Somehow, I thought I could sense discomfort radiating from Elias.

“What the hell are you doing here, Aurelia?” Max whispered to me, glancing over at Elias again.

“Please, call me Aura while we’re here,” I pleaded.

He paused, waiting for my answer, which I didn’t give. “That doesn’t answer my question,” he said firmly. “Your father has gone mad looking for you. What the hell are you up to?” he cursed again.

I looked down, avoiding the gaze of his icy blue eyes. “That’s a very long story. But please, promise me you won’t tell your mother that I’m here. Or your sister.” I knew I could trust Max, one of my oldest friends. Nevaria on the other hand…well, she didn’t like me much.

When we were children, before my mother’s death, my parents were hosting a dinner for the royal houses of the Four Kingdoms. At one point, Max and I snuck away from the banquet hall to throw pebbles off one of the towers to see whose would go the farthest. Nevaria came to find us and haul us back, when we got caught by Horus. She got in as much trouble as we did, and she blamed me even though it was Max’s idea. She never forgave me for it, even after all this time, calling me a rebel and a bad influence on her brother.

“You know I can’t keep anything from Neevee,” Max answered me, referring to his sister by her nickname. “The second she sees me, she’ll know something is off.”

“I know.” They always had a weird twin thing. “But promise me you’ll keep it from her as long as you can. We’ll be leaving today.”

Max looked over at Elias again, seemingly distracted by him. He held his stare for a moment before looking back down at me. “Please don’t leave without at least telling me what’s going on. Your father has requested that my mother send scouts to search the woods for you, and she has obliged. We all fear he has gone mad from your absence. He thinks you were stolen away.” He spoke quickly and in a hushed tone.

Shit. So news of my absence had hit Monuvia. I felt stupid for walking around without a disguise. Perhaps I was lucky I hadn’t been to Monuvia in over a decade, or that there weren’t more people in the city who would recognize me.

I looked down, feeling a tinge of guilt. “I know,” I whispered. “Are there any other updates? On my father?”

The prince sighed. “Last I heard, you were seen somewhere near Chatus, so your father was going to send some troops here to monitor for you, in case you came here too. They’ll be here any day now, Aurelia.”

“Aura,” I corrected.

Max took my hand gently, and pulled it to his chest. “What’s going on? Is everything okay? Are you in danger?”

I turned to Elias, and watched his eyes darken into something deadly as Max held my hand against him. Trybe put a hand on Elias’s shoulder to stop him from stepping towards us, and gave him an imploring look. In that moment, I was very thankful that she was there with us.

“I’m fine, Max. Really,” I said after clearing my throat. “I left Rimor on my own accord.” Just then, we heard a knock coming from the other end of the building.

“Hello? Trybe?” a curious male voice called out from the front entrance of the shop. “I have the materials you were looking for.”

“Dammit,” Trybe said under her breath. “I forgot I was expecting supplies this morning.”

I nodded to her, indicating she should go about her business to avoid suspicion. She understood, and stepped inside to tend to her supplier.

“I can’t talk here,” I said to Max, gently pulling my hand away from his muscular chest.

The prince thought for a moment, tapping a finger to his chin. “I know a place we can go for privacy,” he said finally. “Even Neevee doesn’t know about it. Will you come with me? Please?”

I turned to Elias again, his gaze fixed on me and Max. “If Elias can come with me,” I said to Max. I had the feeling Elias wouldn’t agree to let me go alone anyway.

Max looked at Elias with apprehension, but ultimately agreed. “You’ll have to meet me there separately. I get stopped in the city a lot. If you’re seen with me, people may put two and two together.” I nodded in agreement, and Max continued. “On the east end of Tynvaris, left of an art dealer’s shop called the Drawing Book, you’ll see a bridge with one of the stones missing from its edge. If you cross that bridge, and head into the little wooded area, you’ll see a tree with a crescent moon carved into it. Behind the tree, there’s a trap door hidden under the soil that leads to an old, abandoned cellar. ”

I looked at him quizzically.

“I discovered it when I was younger, and found it abandoned. I made it my safe haven, when I need time away. You’ll be safe there. If you have a steel striker, you can light the torch inside.”

“We have one,” I replied.

“Good. I’ll let you go first, then meet you there as soon as I can.”

I nodded and hugged Max again, Elias watching warily beside us. I turned and walked into the weapons shop and Elias followed, leaving Max alone out back. When we entered, Trybe and a man were carrying a few crates of supplies into the back room. She glanced up at us and gave a quick nod.

“We’ll meet up with you later,” Elias said to her. The man Trybe was with was too busy hauling the supplies to turn and look at us.

“I’ll be here,” Trybe said with a confident wink.

Without another word, we walked out and headed towards Tynvaris. We made it to the east end of the city in silence, Elias tense and brooding the whole time. More so than usual.

We found the Drawing Book, then followed the rest of Max’s directions. Soon, we arrived at the tree with the small crescent moon carving. I peered at the ground behind it, only seeing undisturbed soil. Elias bent down and helped me brush the soil away until we found the wooden hatch hidden underneath. It really was hidden quite well.

Elias lifted the hatch and insisted he go first. I didn’t argue, and held the hatch open as he walked down a small set of creaky stairs and out of sight. He seemed to have found the torch Max had mentioned because I heard the familiar sound of his steel striker trying to light a spark. When I saw the wall light up, I took that as my queue to head inside, quietly closing the heavy cellar door behind me.

The cellar was small, roughly the same size as our rented room at the StarMoon Inn. Elias headed to the opposite wall, and began striking his steel tool next to another torch, until a spark lit up the dense oil inside and turned it into a flame.

Now that there was more light, I could make out more items in the room. A feather mattress sat on the floor in one corner, covered in dusty blankets. A small, open cabinet was near to it, and looked to be filled with bottles of wine. Towards the center of the room were two armchairs, which also looked to be a bit dusty. Between the chairs was a small table, topped with a deck of cards. There was no room for any other furniture in the small cellar. I wondered how Max was able to get any of it in there to begin with.

I stood there, wondering why Max needed two chairs. Then I realized, this was probably where he brought his lovers in secret. He was a big flirt, after all.

I walked over and wiped some of the dust off a chair with my hand before sitting down. I looked up and watched Elias pace the room, observing the small furnishings. His shoulders were tense, and he looked uneasy.

“Elias?” I said. He stopped walking and looked at me. “You can relax now.”

“Are you sure we’re safe here? Your prince isn’t going to just go call for the guards to come ambush us?” he asked bitterly, beginning to pace again.

“Of course he won’t,” I replied sharply. “And he’s not my prince. He’s a good friend. He has trusted me with his secrets, and I know I can trust him with this.” Elias huffed, still looking unsure. I sighed, trying to ease my frustration. “What about me, Elias? Do you trust me?”

Elias paused his pacing once more, his fiery stare meeting mine. “I do.”

“Then relax. Please.”

He continued to meet my stare before finally letting out a breath, his shoulders dropping. “Alright,” he muttered as he leaned against the wall – the same lean he always did, which I found oddly enticing.

Neither of us spoke for a few minutes. It was silent other than the sound of the crackling flames from the torches that likely hadn’t been lit in weeks. And even from underground, I could still hear the splashing sound of a gentle rushing stream. I found it soothing.

The few minutes of silence gave me time to think about what I was going to tell Max. I trusted him with my secrets, just as he trusted me with his. I decided I was going to tell him where I was going and why, but spare too much details of the journey itself. I then realized that even Elias didn’t know the true purpose of my mission. But at this point, I knew I trusted him enough now too.

“Elias,” my voice broke the silence. “I’m going to explain everything to Max. And, well…some of it might be new to you. I hope it doesn’t change anything.”

Elias cocked his head slightly, but then gave me a soft smile. “We’ve come this far, Aura. I can’t imagine I’d abandon you now.”

His words were shockingly reassuring, and butterflies filled my stomach. “But you would have earlier on in the journey?” I joked.

He let out a laugh, which lit my soul from within. But before he could respond, we heard the cellar door begin to open, and sunlight flooded the small room, blinding me for a moment. Max stepped down the creaky stairs, and closed the hatch behind him.

“Sorry for the mess. I would have cleaned up if I knew I was having company,” he teased. He walked over and sat at the chair opposite me, giving Elias an awkward nod as he passed him. “So,” Max began, clasping his hands together. “Tell me everything.”

I took a deep breath, then started from the beginning, with the recurring dream of the wolf. Elias’s face fell when I mentioned it, but I continued. I went on about how the dream led me to sneak into Rimor Library where I found the mysterious book. I explained the map, and Zolmara, and the strange conversation with my Uncle Balor who assured me Zolmara would have the answers I was seeking. All throughout my story, I periodically glanced at Elias, who remained expressionless but listened intently.

“Can I have a look?” Max asked, referring to the book. I agreed, and pulled it from my pack. I handed it to Max and saw Elias following it with intense eyes.

While Max flipped through the book, I explained how I met Elias, and that he agreed to take me to the Forest of Torment, which was otherwise called Zolmara according to the book. I explained our trip to Chatus and how Rimorian guards were stationed there, and that they almost found me. I didn’t bother mentioning Magda, Nadia, or Gabriel, as I felt the secret of their hidden village was not mine to tell. I explained that we didn’t have time to get supplies in Chatus due to all the guards, so we came to Monuvia. Max listened patiently without interruption.

“Wow,” he said breathlessly. “That’s a lot to take in.” He handed the book back to me.

“May I see it?” Elias’s voice took me by surprise since he had remained so quiet throughout my storytelling. We made eye contact for a moment before he stepped over so I could hand the book to him. He inspected each page slowly and carefully.

“I don’t know, Aura,” Max said, using my name correctly this time, even though no one could hear us. “I’ve never heard of Zolmara or seen it on any map. And the pictures in the book… I mean, it could just be someone’s wild imagination. A story they drew out.”

I cringed. “What about the language it’s in? Have you ever seen anything like it?”

Max shook his head. “No. But I’m guessing it’s an old language. My mother might know. She’s into old, obscure history.”

Panic shot through me. “No, you can’t tell Queen Janness I’m here. Please. She’s loyal to my father, she’ll—”

“Relax,” Max assured. “I won’t say a word. I was just saying, she might know more about this book. Maybe when this mess is over, you can ask her about it.”

I pondered this. Could the Queen really have some of the answers to my questions? It wasn’t worth the risk to find out now, when we had made it this far. Queen Janness and my father were old friends, and I was positive she was more loyal to him than she would be to me.

Max started fiddling with one of the rings at the end of his dreads before turning to Elias. “What about you? Anything in there make sense to you?”

Elias glanced up, staring darkly at the prince. “No,” he said shortly, closing the book with a loud thud before handing it back to me, then making his way back to the wall to lean against it.

“Well what’s your story then?” Max continued, and Elias’s grim stare did not falter. “Where did you come from before you met Aura? What convinced you to agree to this dangerous mission of hers?”

With no emotion whatsoever, Elias replied with, “This is a business deal. She will pay me when we reach the Forest of Torment safely.”

My heart sank to my stomach. So much for his earlier words.

I can’t imagine I’d abandon you now .

By now, I should be used to Elias getting my hopes up just to crush them.

“A business deal? Really?” Max stood up. “Aurelia is worth so much more than a business deal.”

Elias stood from his leaning position, and matched Max’s aggressive stance. “I will protect her, as I am being paid to do.” My throat tightened, and I forced back the tears that wanted to well up in my eyes at the sting of his words. He was just doing this all for money. I needed to remind myself of that.

I swore I saw the hairs on Elias’s arms begin to stand up, even in the dim light.

“Good. You’ll protect her with your godsdamned life,” Max threatened. I was surprised at how protective he was acting. Like the big brother I never had.

Before Elias could counter, and before I could interrupt, bright light suddenly flooded the small cellar, blinding me once again. The cellar door had been opened, and I stood up quickly as Elias rushed over and put his body between me and the opened hatch.

“I know you’re in there, Max,” a female voice called in, and I recognized it as Princess Nevaria. Max’s eyes widened in sync with my own. “Don’t think I didn’t know about your little hideout,” she chaffed, and she began to make her way down the short steps. “You’re supposed to be at archery lessons, what the fuck are you doing here? Mother is going to be—”

Nevaria’s voice cut out as she made her way to the bottom step and looked up at her bother. I was hidden enough by Elias’s large frame that she didn’t see me, but she definitely saw Elias.

“Really, Max? Another suitor?” she scoffed. “If you laid with women like you do men, you’d have a dozen bastard children by now.”

“Neevee,” Max gasped. “How…how did you even know about this place?” He glanced at me, then shot his eyes back up to his twin before she could notice. “It doesn’t matter. You need to leave. Now ,” he urged her.

Nevaria let out a maniacal laugh. “I’ve known about your secret hideout for years, brother. In fact, I’ve used it myself a few times when you’ve been away.” She laughed again. “At least let me get a good look at him. This one is handsome.” She stepped towards Elias and I held my breath while I tried to make myself as small as possible. “Do you like women, too?” I heard her say sultrily to Elias. “Because I can please you a lot better than my brother can.”

Elias had no reaction at all, just remained still and silent. I, on the other hand, felt my anger swell to the surface, and my feet shuffled. Nevaria must have noted the movement, as I watched her peer around Elias’s back.

“What the fuck?!” she squealed, as she jumped backward and knocked into her brother. “What the hell is she doing here?”

“Neevee, please. I can explain,” Max cried out.

“How long has she been hiding out in here??”

“She hasn’t!”

“If King Callum finds out we’ve been harboring his daughter, this could spark a war , Max!”

“We haven’t been harboring anyone! I just discovered her earlier this morning. Neevee please, calm down.” He grabbed her arm, but she yanked it out of his grasp.

“I’m telling Mother. Now.” She headed towards the stairs, but it was Elias who stepped in her path. He moved so quickly, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me.

“I can’t let you do that,” Elias’s deep voice rumbled through the small cellar.

Nevaria’s eyes narrowed as she glared at him. “Are you threatening a princess, you oversized buffoon?”

“Princess Nevaria, please. Just sit with us and listen to reason,” I pleaded.

She shot daggers at me with her eyes. “Are you trying to start a war with my people, Aurelia?”

“No, of course not! I beg you, just a few minutes of your time, and we can explain.”

“Please, Neevee, listen to her,” Max begged. “For me.”

The room went silent as Nevaria studied her brother for a moment before looking back up at Elias with a nasty glare. “I guess if this oaf isn’t going to move, I have no choice,” she jabbed her finger into his chest. Elias only gave her a deadpan expression in return.

Max’s shoulders relaxed. “Just a moment ago, you called him handsome,” he mocked, arms crossed.

Nevaria turned to her brother and flipped him a rude gesture. She walked over and sat in one of the empty chairs, crossing her legs with elegance and laying her arms on the armrests. With her grace and confidence, she could make the old dusty chair look like a throne.

“You have five minutes,” she said to me, eyes darkening.

Max and I gave each other a worried glance. I made my way and sat in the chair across from her. Only the small table topped with dusty cards separated us.

“Max is telling the truth,” I began. “I only arrived in Monuvia two nights ago, and we ran into each other this morning by surprise. He had no idea I was here. Please don’t put any blame on him.”

Max gave me a thankful nod.

“What the hell are you doing here, then?” she hissed.

“I only stopped in to collect supplies. I will leave today.”

Nevaria’s bright blue eyes bore into my soul. Like her twin, her sky-colored eyes stood out, even in the dim light of the cellar. Unlike her twin, her braids were tighter and more uniform, and were not adorned with jewels. Her look was more elegant, while her brother aimed for extravagance.

“Why did you leave Rimor?” she continued her interrogation.

“I left on my own, in search of something. I plan to return after I find what I’m looking for.”

“What is it?”

I paused, unsure if I should answer truthfully. I decided a vague truth would have to be enough. “Answers.”

She raised a brow. “Your reckless father is ready to destroy all four kingdoms, including his own, in order to find you. Is that worth your answers ?” she said the last word in a mocking tone.

“He won’t,” I muttered, shaking my head. “He won’t do that.”

“He will . His soldiers are already on their way. And if you’re not found, who knows what he’ll do next. I wouldn’t put it past him to send armies into each kingdom, and leave no stone unturned until he finds you. Did you at least send him a letter or something? Not that it would make a difference in his irrational state.” She tapped her fingers on the armrest impatiently.

“No, I…I didn’t. If I leave any clues as to why I left, he might figure out where I’m going. I can’t have that.”

Nevaria rolled her eyes dramatically. “You’re exasperating, Aurelia. And you’re a fool.”

“Maybe so,” I sighed.

“You know how overbearing her father is,” Max stepped in. “All the times we visited and she wasn’t allowed to go anywhere or do anything. She’s just trying to earn her freedom, Neevee.”

Nevaria’s death stare shifted to her brother, then back to me. “Is your freedom worth war?”

“There won’t be a war, I promise. I will return to my father as soon as I can,” I assured her. Although now, I was wondering if she could be right. Could he really be capable of starting war just because of me? I guess if he thought it would bring me back, he’d do just about anything.

“You’re a fool,” she repeated as she crossed her arms and slumped in the chair.

“Please, you can’t tell Queen Janness I was here. We’re leaving today, and you won’t see me again until this is all over, I promise.”

Nevaria looked me up and down, and I had to stop myself from shrinking in my chair. “Why should I do that for you? What do I get in return?”

Elias growled in displeasure, but Nevaria only shot him a glare .

“Neevee, please” Max begged, probably feeling as defeated as I was.

I put my hand up. “No, that’s a fair question.” I straightened my posture and tried to appear as confident as I could. “What do you want?” I asked her. I briefly glanced at Elias, who still blocked the exit and watched us silently, looking as intimidating as ever.

Nevaria seemed to ponder this for a moment. Then a look of realization crossed her face. “We turn twenty-three soon,” she began. “Which means we have one year before one of us is crowned Queen or King.”

She was right. It was law in all the Four Kingdoms that the heir, first born of the King and Queen, be crowned on their twenty-fourth birthday. That way, should they marry and have their first child within their first year as ruler, they will get about twenty-five years of reign, depending on how long it took to conceive.

While marrying and having an heir immediately wasn’t required, it was conventional. Some rulers chose to wait, in order to prolong their reign. King Volund of Sprath, for example, had been ruling for over twenty years and had yet to show any sign of marrying or having an heir.

“And?” I asked, raising a brow.

“ And ,” she hissed, glaring at me, “our mother didn’t exactly have a first born, did she?” I thought about her statement, and slow realization hit.

“You don’t know who will be crowned?” I muttered.

“Technically, Maksym was born first, but our mother and father didn’t want that alone to determine who would inherit the crown. Twins are rare, after all. From what we understand, Mother will choose one of us on coronation day.”

I glanced at Max, and he nodded his confirmation. “I’m guessing you want to be queen,” I finished her thought.

“Obviously,” she said with a rude inflection. “Max doesn’t even want to be king. He’ll be forced to marry a woman in order to produce an heir.”

And Max didn’t see women in that way, I knew. Having relations with the same gender wasn’t exactly forbidden, but certainly wasn’t a common practice. And many people didn’t take kindly to those who were different. So Max kept it a secret, one he shared with me in confidence on a visit to Rimor a few years back. He even kept it from his mother, as she was a traditional woman and he feared her reaction may not be welcoming.

I looked at Max again, and his eyes looked distant. “Is that true, Max? You don’t want to be king?” I asked gently.

He turned his focus to me, and smiled. “I’d rather stick a hot iron rod in my eyes.”

I imagined the analogy come to life, and crinkled my brows in displeasure.

“Why don’t you just tell your mother that? Tell her you’ve chosen the next ruler yourselves?” I asked.

“We’ve tried,” Max replied. “She won’t listen.”

“The woman is very traditional,” Nevaria continued, echoing my earlier thoughts. “She has a whole ritual planned. She plans to let the gods decide on coronation night. Whoever they decide, she will crown.”

“A ritual?” I cocked my head to the side in confusion.

“Don’t ask,” Max rolled his eyes. “Monuvians are a very spiritual people, but our mother is a little over the top.”

“So if she, or the gods, choose you,” I said to Max, “could you just refuse?”

Max shook his head solemnly. “I wouldn’t dare defy the gods. Or my mother. I’m not sure which would be scarier.”

I always thought of Queen Janness as gentle and peaceful, but the more I thought about it now, I noted that she could be quite intimidating as well. I wondered what she was like behind closed doors.

We sat in silence for a brief moment. “So what do you want from me, then?” I turned to Nevaria.

The princess gave me an annoyed look, like I was supposed to already know. “For some reason, our mother respects your father immensely. When you finish your…mission or whatever you’re calling it, and you return to your father and clean up your fucking mess, perhaps you could tell him to convince our mother to rethink the ritual. To let us choose amongst ourselves.”

I considered this. My father hadn’t really respected my wishes in the last decade, and I didn’t see how this would be any different. But maybe when my search for answers was all over, our relationship would change.

“Deal,” I said to Nevaria after my moment of thought. “I will do my best. Just note that my father is as stubborn as you are.”

Nevaria responded with a wicked smile. “We have an agreement then. As long as you get out of my kingdom by tonight, and you promise to put in a word to your father after your foolish little mission, I will not tell my mother you were ever here.” She put out her hand, and I was about to shake it, when Elias interrupted.

“You won’t tell anyone she was here,” he said darkly.

“Excuse me?” Nevaria shot him a nasty look. I looked up at him as well, with bemusement.

“Not just your mother. You won’t tell anyone,” he repeated.

Nevaria paused, and her lips slowly curled upwards. “You don’t trust me, so you have to mention loopholes?”

Elias only growled, making my spine shiver. I watched as Nevaria gulped, but did not change her expression.

“ Fine ,” she hissed. She turned back to me. “I won’t tell anyone you and your attractive manservant were here.” Elias remained impassive at the backhanded compliment, but I felt my temper flare. “You have my word,” she finished.

“Yes, deal,” I said harshly, grabbing her outstretched hand quickly. I just wanted to get out of there, before I did anything I would regret.

“Alright, sister,” Max stepped in. “You’ve had your torturous fun. Now get out of here.” He nodded towards the cellar door, which was no longer being blocked by Elias.

Nevaria snickered as she stood and flipped her long black braids over her shoulder. She looked down at me with a serious expression. “In case your small mind didn’t comprehend, I want you out of here by nightfall, or the deal is off,” she warned, no hint of a bluff in her tone.

“Understood,” I answered. I watched as she confidently walked up the steps and out the hidden cellar door, not forgetting to briefly stop in front of Elias and give him a wink. His eyes looked past her and right at me. I quickly glanced away, and met eyes with Max instead. “We should go, before she changes her mind,” I noted.

Max let out a defeated sigh at the sound of the hatch closing. “I’m so sorry, Aurelia. I had no idea she knew about this place. I shouldn’t have brought you here.”

I walked over and placed my hand on his arm. “It’s okay, it’s not your fault. It was a good idea, despite her.” I smiled reassuringly. “I don’t know how you can deal with her. It boggles my mind that you two are even related. You really are opposites.”

Max laughed. “The only thing we have in common is the womb we shared,” he joked. “And our taste in men.” This made me chuckle. “She may be a raging bitch, but she always has her people’s best interest in mind. She would make a great queen.”

“I don’t doubt that,” I admitted. “She’s fierce, confident, and loyal.”

“So are you,” Max answered. “You’ll make a great queen too.”

I gave a half smile. I always wanted to be queen, if only to no longer live under my father’s rule. But ruling a kingdom also terrified me. I was sheltered and closed off from the world. Would my people even want me as their queen?

Max pulled me in for a long hug, cutting off my thoughts. Elias did not move from where he stood. “I wish you could stay,” Max said softly to me. “I don’t know when I’ll see you again.”

“I’m sure I’ll see you at your sister’s coronation next year,” I winked, and Max responded with a wide grin. I hugged my friend one last time and we both shed a tear as we said goodbye.

I turned and led Elias up the small steps and out of the cellar. “Take care of her,” Max said loudly as we exited. Elias did not respond, but closed the heavy door gently. I crossed my arms, feeling a deep wave of emotions starting to surface. I was angry that I didn’t get to see one of my oldest friends for more than an hour. I was angry at Elias’s unwarranted rudeness towards him. And I was sad. Sad and angry at Elias’s words. This is a business deal , he had said. That’s truly all I was to him after all. Nothing more.

I bit my lip.

“What is it?” Elias asked. I hadn’t noticed him staring at me.

“Nothing. Let’s go.” I turned and began walking back into the city. Elias did not respond as I blocked the boiling emotions from breaching the surface.

Then Elias broke the silence. “We need to see Trybe before we leave.”

The words quickly made my blood begin to heat. I knew we promised to meet with Trybe, but his earlier, hurtful words made me angry enough to bite back.

“Why? So you can have more alone time with her?” I almost said so you can fuck her? but was somehow able to stop myself.

“No. So you can get your bow.”

My steps slowed and a moment of embarrassment hit me. I now realized I left my bow and its accessories at Trybe’s shop. “Right,” I muttered. Trybe didn’t deserve my anger. She was nothing but pleasant towards me. But Elias. His hot and cold words were enough to drive me mad.

My feelings for him were strong, and every time I thought he returned them, he would say something that only proved he felt nothing towards me. I was a “business deal”. He was “being paid to protect me.”

He probably said “always” to Horus because he’ll always keep me safe as long as he gets paid in the end. He “won’t abandon me now” because then he’d lose half his bargain.

That’s all it was. That’s all it would ever be.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” Elias asked.

“Fine. Let’s just go.” And we continued walking without another word.