“Well done, Asteria.” Eryx congratulated, with that smile that always reminded me a bit of an innocent puppy—despite his ability to shift into a hawk with razor sharp claws. He swung an arm over my shoulder, and I jokingly pushed it off, waving a hand and scrunching my nose.
“Yuck, you stink.” I teased, making him chuckle.
“Oh, come on, even my sweat smells amazing.” He jokily boasted. “Ladies would line up for this experience you know.” I raised an eyebrow at him before bursting out laughing, the faux offended look on his face cracking as he watched me.
“Okay.” I gasped for breath, my giggles stealing it all. “Whatever those ladies want you to believe.”
He opened his mouth to argue back, when we both noticed Priscilla waiting, talking to Harpina and Titan. Eryx swung his arm back over my shoulder as he guided me to her.
“Congratulations, Asteria!” Priscilla smiled widely. “That was amazing!”
I’d thought it sounded like more than two people clapping and yelling. I smiled back at her, pride in myself still foreign but wonderful all the same.
“Thanks, Pris. What brings you out here?” I asked, cocking my head. The training yard was not a typical destination for my peaceful friend—she preferred to leave the fighting to others.
“Callisto needs your help.” She smiled ruefully. “She’s trying to untangle a plan in her mind and needs some insight.” I shrugged in response; it was a common enough occurrence over the past few weeks. Callisto was working on so many plans, so many ways to free humans, and I was anxious to help in any way possible—being able to focus all my rage made me feel a million times lighter.
Still, I was getting anxious, wanting todosomething.
“Thanks for your help.” I kissed Eryx on the cheek, and he squeezed me back lightly.
“Anytime.” He promised, and I knew he meant it too. Eryx was like how I imagined an older brother in a lot of ways, and while he may be playful and fun, he was also hundreds of years older than I was and an accomplished warrior—not to mention spymaster. After what had happened to me in Dusk, he seemed to feel the need to look after me.
“Thank you both. I’ll see you two later!” I nodded to Titan and Harpina, who nodded back, Harpina with a smirk, and Titan with his usual grim expression. He never lightened up in the training ring, but he did during dinners. Calix always held “family dinners” at least three times a week. The other days were reserved for larger affairs, where residents of the palace and city attended—more like feasts than a dinner. Calix felt it necessary for his people to see him and feel included.
I admired that about him. After getting used to King Astraeus and Cyrus, it was hard to reconcile a king who cared so much about his people, but he very obviously did. Outside of those dinners, we also spent weekends going into the city, to bars and restaurants, enjoying ourselves and getting away from politics and the looming war for a night—but beyond that, it let Calix’s people see him and his advisors among them. It was sweet, the way he wanted his people to feel on equal footing with him.
How they ever could be, next to the most powerful Fae alive, I wasn’t truly sure, but Calix was determined to make them feel it anyway.
“Training seems to be going well.” Priscilla smiled as she linked our arms together and headed toward the war room. Callisto was usually found there, and increasingly, so was Priscilla—despite her distaste for war and fighting.
“It has been.” I admitted, biting my lip. “But I can’t help feeling like I’m—” I struggled to verbalize what was bothering me. “Not reaching my full potential.”
“How so?” Priscilla asked, eyebrows furrowing,
“I don’t know.” I sighed heavily. “My body is just—” I groaned, aggravation in every line of my face. “I’ve always had this feeling, like my body doesn’t…fit? It’s hard to explain, but I feel like it’s holding me back. Like I could do so much more, if only I didn’t feel like I’d been stuffed into skin too tight for me.” I knew itsounded crazy, and the way Priscilla raised her brows at me, bemused, I could tell she thought so too.
“Never mind that.” I shook my head, dismissing it. “What have you been up to, missy?” I raised my brows, wiggling them up and down, enjoying it way too much when her mouth dropped open.
“What is that supposed to mean?” She demanded indignantly, causing me to laugh.
“Imean—” I emphasized, drawing the word out. “You’ve been hanging around the war room an awful lot for someone who claims to be unable to help in the war to come. Could it be a certain resistance leader whose Siren Song has you there so often?”
My teasing made Priscilla’s cheeks blush bright red, her eyes skittering away to the left.Nailed it.
“Are you happy?” I asked softly, dropping my teasing as I looked at her intently. After everything she had been through, everything Princess Daneiris had put her through, Priscilla deserved nothing but happiness. She stopped outside the doors to the war room, turning as she threw her arms around me unexpectedly.
“I am happy.” She confessed, warmth suffusing her tone. “It’s—it’s new. It’s not really much of anything yet, to be honest. But—after what happened.” Priscilla swallowed hard, and I had the sinking feeling there was much more to her story than she’d told me. “I didn’t think I would ever want another man again.”
My eyes closed, pain running through me at the confirmation that my sweetheart of a friend had been brutalized by the monsters in Dusk. I didn’t know who—and I would never force her to tell me—but I would ensure every Fae male in Dusk, outside Kian, suffered for it.
“I never considered—” Priscilla’s voice dropped to a hush, “I never considered a woman before, but there was just a—a sparkbetween us. Nothing has happened, but we’ve been spending more time together.”
That pretty blush graced her cheeks once more, and I could see why Callisto would be interested. I didn’t share her preferences, but Priscilla was a beautiful, doe eyed blonde who had a sweet, innocent appearance. More than that, she was genuinely kind, in a world that didn’t leave much room for kindness. Given what had happened to her, I could hardly comprehend the strength she had to maintain that kindness after everything.
“I’m just happy that you’re happy, Pris.” I smiled widely at her, hoping she could see my sincerity. “Whatever makes you happy, I’ll support.Always.”
Tears rose in her eyes, and she hugged me once more, whispering her thanks in my ear. I hugged her back tightly. She had been one of my first true friends, and I wanted her to know, no matter what, that I was here for her.
