“Fuck that place,” someone murmured.
The woman doctoring me just shook her head. “Do we need to hold you down? Do you want a leather strip for your teeth?”
I laughed. “Just get it done, will you? This is taking forever.”
She did, and while I felt the gouge of the needle, I never flinched or pulled away. I hadn’t been lying—this was not a unique situation, and as someone who didn’t heal quickly, I’d had to have stitches from time to time.
After it was over and my finger was wrapped in gauze, the group around me sat back and collectively heaved a sigh of relief.
“How long will it take to heal?” someone asked.
“It’s clear you’ve never been suppressed. It’ll take ages,” Hadriel told him before sitting in beside me. “Now, darling, what will lighten your mood?”
“How about a couple stories, and then I think I’ll get some wine for me and the alpha and head to bed.”
Hadriel’s eyebrow arched but he didn’t comment. He launched into a raunchy tale, many people hanging around to listen and interject, the evenings apparently a lot more lively for him with me here. Looser, he’d said. He’d even gotten into the pants of someone he’d been pining after. He’d never dwelled on it long enough to really explain, though, and once he started a new story, I was swept up and forgot to ask.
Now I listened to him sadly. I would miss him. It had been such a short time, but I realized I’d liked him from the get-go.
The night waned and finally I knew it was time. I felt my eagerness to get going and finally claim a future for myself rising. I would still be running away like the last time I’d had to set out on my own, but this time I wasn’t scared. I was older now, more experienced. Better at lying. Besides, if I could survive at twelve, I had to be able to survive at twenty-seven.
“Let’s get you that wine.” Hadriel rose with me, not rushing me when I gave a few lingering goodnights. He reached under the cleaned-off table we used for food prep and grabbed the half-bottle left over from the night before. Everyone knew not to touch the alpha’s stash.
“Thank you, Hadriel.” I hugged him tightly. “For everything.”
He handed over the cups and then held onto my upper arms, holding my gaze. “You were never meant to be in a cage, even one that hands out orgasms like they’re silver nickels.” He squeezed my arms. “Take care of yourself, my darling. Be careful. From the back of the tent, aim southwest for a half mile. Then watch out for yourself. The town will be beyond.”
“Wh-what?” I asked stupidly.
“Please leave him alive. Remember what I said? Our kingdom needs him.”
“I...” I licked my lips, my heart racing at his intuitiveness. “I’m just going to bed.”
“Aurelia, just so you know, he doesn’t want this duty, anymore. He’s been leaving a hole in his sentries every night. It leads directly to your tent. Whether he means to or if his wolf is somehow hiding that fact from him, there has always been a way out for you, and a way in for danger. He wants to let you run free, and he will face the danger head-on to give you that opportunity. He’s not a bad man—exactly the opposite, actually—he’s just in a bad situation. Visit one of the drug riddled neighborhoods and see for yourself. There is a reason we’re here, and Granny’s clues all point at you. If you could shift the blame where it belonged, none of us would be in this mess.”
He hugged me again and kissed my cheek and I could hardly speak after what I’d heard. Weston had been leaving me a way out? Even if subconsciously, it meant there was a part of him that did care what happened to me. Part of him that was pushing back against duty, against everything he thought he stood for, to see me safe. I didn’t know how to feel, or what to say.
That Hadriel had known all this time, only telling me when he intuited I was finally ready to leave... It was all too much.
“How did you know?” I finally asked, my voice barely a whisper.
His grin was sly. “I guarded the dragon queen, which really just amounted to flying by the seat of my pants as she did what she pleased. I recognize danger, and I recognize a person hellbent on surviving. With you, it was only a matter of time.”
“Yet you didn’t say anything.”
“Of course I didn’t say anything,” he said, scandalized. “I don’t snitch. Besides, I’ve tried a few of your products over the last few days. You’re exactly right—they’re tame. I mean, they’re fun, don’t get me wrong. Last night I had a great time wandering through the trees. Apparently one of the sentries got a lot of entertainment watching me. It was like a really cool dreamscape. Anyway, some of that stuff seems almost medicinal. Whatever issold in the market has been altered. It’s giving you a bad name, as I said.” He lifted his eyebrows. “If I were you, I’d be pissed.”
“How’d you get more of my product?”
He huffed. “I don’t help out simply because I’m a nice guy. You think you’re the only one with quick hands?”
I chuckled, my eyes tearing up. “I’m going to miss you.”
“This isn’t forever, Finley—sorry, Aurelia. How embarrassing. I just see so much of her in you. In your wilder parts, I mean. You’re a lot more balanced than a dragon. It’s been a real pleasure. I hardly ever have to be on my toes.”
“I’m not sure that’s a compliment.”
“Trust me, darling, it is. Now run along. Your alpha went without dinner tonight. If I’m not mistaken, he’s hating himself for how he’s treated you. It won’t be hard to make up with him.” He tilted his head at me. “Remember, don’t kill him. I’m counting on you.”
