‘I’ll try.’
I swallow over the lump in my throat. I know she’s about to leave, and for some reason, I don’t want her to go. I don’t want to face the world right now. As if understanding, she leans closer, her forehead resting on mine for only a moment. Droplets of glowing crystal water float around us as a calming sensation moves over me.
‘I believe in you, Queen Vera.’
Then, with a sudden roar, the water collapses. Waves surge around me, splashing up against my body. The force of it catches me off guard, and my foot slips on the muddy lakebed. I feel myself falling, the cold rush of water waiting to swallow me whole, but before I can hit the surface, strong arms wrap around me, pulling me up and out of the cold water.
I gasp as I’m cradled against a warm solid chest. Fenris. His arms hold me, my soaked dress clinging to me like a heavy weight, dripping and pulling me down even as he holds me firmly against him.
“What are you doing out here? And without a guard? Do you want the Shadoweaver to find you, is that it?” Fenris’s voice is clipped and hard, but each word is laced with a protectiveness I don’t think I deserve.
“Put me down,” I whisper, pushing at his chest.
Fenris grunts and continues to the shore. Once we are completely out of the water, he lets go of my legs, letting them swing down, but he doesn’t let go completely, his other arm is still around my back as he curls me into his chest. I look up, startled. My breath catches. His gaze pins me—unblinking, intense—his eyes shadowed darker in the moonlight. The warmth from his body sends a pang of longing through me, and I gently push away from him. His arm drops, slowly lowering my feet to the ground, but he grabs my hand.
“I’m sorry for earlier,” he says, his voice rough.
“It’s fine. I can’t imagine how hurt you were when you found out I had returned but had no memory of my life before.” I drop my gaze to the ground, letting my hair fall around me. Fenris’s other hand reaches for my chin, tipping my face up to his.
“You were my world from such a young age, and I vowed to find you again. I searched everywhere.”
Tears immediately spring to life again, bringing with it that dull throb in my jaw. I squeeze my eyes close. “I’m sorry for the pain you had to endure.”
He steps closer, and I open my eyes. “You were my best friend. I never should have treated you the way I did. You didn’t deserve it.”
“It's fine.”
“Stop saying it's fine. It’s not. Nothing is fine.”
Startled, I step back until Nymeria and Anika flank me, their warm bodies pressing against me.
Fenris drops his head, shaking it. “We need to get you back to the castle. You shouldn’t beout here alone.”
I gather up my wet skirts, bundling them around my hips so I can walk without tripping. With each step, the damp fabric sticks to my legs and makes it harder to walk, but I don’t care. Silence stretches between us, heavy and awkward, as we make our way back toward the castle. The only sounds are the crunch of gravel beneath our feet and the faint drip of water from my drenched clothing.
When we reach the castle grounds, I see Raiden on the terrace, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, a dark frown etched into his face. His eyes are fixed on me, piercing and intense. Even from a distance, I can feel the weight of his concern mixed with irritation, and it sends a fresh wave of nerves through me. Why do I feel like a naughty child?
He doesn’t move as I get closer, watching every step with that brooding expression. His wings are half-spread behind him, like he’s ready to launch himself into the air at any moment. The tension between us is palpable, and I can’t quite bring myself to meet his gaze directly, the guilt settling in my stomach.
“What the hell, Everly! How are we supposed to protect you when you keep walking off?” he all but growls.
The hairs on my neck stand on end, and something wild and angry sprouts inside of me, and before I can tame it, I’m standing directly in front of him, poking him in the chest. “I don’t need someone watching me all the time. I am capable of handling myself.”
Raiden just stares, his jaw clenched, waiting for me to explain. I hear Fenris behind me scoff, and I spin on him, my glare cutting through the space between us.
“I’m not completely defenseless!” I lash out.
“Just untrained with no memories.”
Hurt seeps into my chest before I can stop it, and Fenris must see, because a pained look flashes across his face. He steps forward.
“I didn’t–”
I hold up my hands. “You did.”
With a sigh, I turn back to Raiden, ready to explain everything. But as soon as I open my mouth, a sharp pain pierces my head, stabbing through my jaw in a way that’s nothing short of excruciating. It feels like something is cracking open beneath my skin, like the very bones in my face are rearranging.
"Fuck," I gasp, dropping to my knees, my fingers tangling in my hair as I press my palms against my skull, trying to force the pain away. But it only intensifies, throbbing in time with my heartbeat, a pulsing agony that blurs my vision.
