60. Pallas

Luxos abandoned me in an unused room before disappearing. I scrambled to the door and found it locked, of course. I slammed my fists into it and screamed. Long dark tracks of blood followed my fingers down the wood of the door as I slunk to the ground. Avlyn's blood.

Icouldn't breathe. With every inhale, that cloying, metallic scent caused me to spiral inward. It's all your fault.

Mystomach heaved as the creature inside me yowled, begging me to get out, but I couldn't. Instead, I shoved her away and caged her in the very depths of my soul until I felt absolutely nothing. I'd gotten good at it. My breath steadied, and I thought of nothing. NotAvlyn, not Jun, not Tori, not the pain that was sure to follow. I walked into the void and let it swallow me whole.

AsI sat in the corner, knees hugged to my chest, the door swung open. Two guards entered. They grabbed my arms to haul me up. I barely felt their fingers dig into my flesh as they dragged me to another room. I stumbled forward when they pushed me inside, and two slaves greeted me in tattered, grey robes. Their hoods hid their faces, but I wouldn't have seen them anyway. I was pulled towards the round wooden tub that filled most of the space. They yanked off my clothes, and I didn't feel embarrassed or flinch away. I just let it happen like I always did.

Istepped into the tub, and they poured pitchers of water over me; the dark red blood swirled with the bath water in the most interesting of patterns. Was that my blood? I couldn't seem to care. I let my fingers dance through the shifting liquids, and they felt as if they belonged to someone else.

Theslaves washed me, scrubbing every inch of my skin with harsh, abrasive sponges. It was as if they tried to wash away any trace of the DragonKingdom. As if my taste of freedom could be scrubbed off. In just a few minutes, I was blank and sparkling.

Theyhauled me out, toweled me dry, and pulled a flowing white gown over my head. The split sleeves were so long they dragged on the floor, and the train of the gown seemed to float behind me. I glanced at myself in the mirror as a human girl braided my hair. I was perfect and pure. The very image of the emperor's consort, ethereal beauty beyond compare. I could hardly see that uncaged beast hiding behind my eyes.

Theyled me down the halls of the palace that had been my home for centuries, the guards following close behind. They pushed open the door to my room. Hadn'tI been sharing it with someone?

Ientered, and a man turned around to greet me.

"Pallas, my love!" Hadeon swept over to me, and I felt my whole body flinch, but there was no pain, only his arms wrapping around me. His hand landed on the back of my head, holding me to his chest. His other held my waist tight. He smelled the same, like the golden sun and a warm summer thunderstorm. He smelt like home.

Don't!The creature inside me hissed, but my arms came up and wrapped around his waist, and he let out a long, contented sigh.

"I was so worried about you, my darling. CommanderLuxos has been punished for his incompetence in retrieving you sooner." He cupped my face in his hand gently, forcing me to look up into those deep violet eyes.

Icouldn't help tears from rising to mine. "YourEminence…"

Hegave me a soft smile. "So formal, Pallas." He pulled me into a soft kiss, his lips moving gently against mine. His hand pressed into my lower back, so our bodies fit together as they always had. The creature in me hissed, but the part of me that was weak always won out. I collapsed into that embrace, into his affection.

Helifted me up and moved us towards the bed, and my heart nearly stopped, but he simply set me down on it and tucked me in. His hands wrapped the blankets around me as if there was nothing more precious to him in the entire world. He sat down beside me and brushed the hair away from my face, his eyes never leaving me.

"You've been through so much, my love. You need some rest. Tomorrow, we can discuss your time away." He ran his finger over my forehead gently again before planting a soft kiss there. "I'm so happy to have you home, Pallas."

Hegot up and left without another word. My heart fluttered, remembering when he had always been gentle with me.

Mycreature hissed and clawed, but I slammed the cage shut on her, rolled over, and fell asleep in my own bed.