“I'm breaking down the door, Galin.”
“Go away,” I said again, this time even softer than the first.
Wood creaked. Split. The dresser slid.
“Galin?”
I covered my face with my hands and tried to stifle my sobs. Footsteps came closer. I felt him there. The Dragon King. He was blocking my only way out.
“Galin, sweetheart,” his voice was kind, but it often changed. It changed from one second to the next.
I couldn't trust him. Couldn't trust any king. Any man.
“My dearest, please, come out. Let me help you. Tell me what happened. Was it something I did? What did I do, my jewel? Whatever it is, I'm so sorry. Just tell me, and I'll never do it again.”
Something touched my hand.
I screamed. It was so loud in that small space that it startled both of us. I opened my eyes at last and stared at Rian. He was on the floor, flat on his belly, his hand beside his face and his eyes wide. The only sound was my harsh breaths.
“Galin?” Rian whispered in shocked horror.
“Rian?”
“Oh, thank the Gods. Galin, sweetheart, come out.”
“Where am I?” I looked around, my shattered mind suddenly condensing, pieces sliding back together. “Oh, fuck.”
“Come out, little one.”
“Don't call me that!” I hissed.
Rian's brows lifted. “All right.” He backed away. “I'm going to get up now.” He stood up. “I'm backing away from the bed.”
“How is he? Is he all right? What did you do to him?!” Raef demanded.
“Oh, fuck,” I muttered as I crawled out from under the bed. “I'm fine, Raef. Go back to work.”
“Go back to work?” Raef peered past the remnants of my door. “The fuck I will!” His wings fluttered high behind him in outrage. “What has he done to you?”
“I had a . . . a reaction to a situation that reminded me of something terrible,” I said. “It wasn't King Rianvar's fault. Please, go back to work.”
Raef frowned, wings lowering. “Are you sure, Boss?” He looked from me to the King.
“I would never hurt him,” Rian growled. “You, on the other hand, are trying my patience.”
Raef made a whimper, his bravado vanishing under Rian's stare, and scurried away. “I'll be downstairs if you need me,” he called back.
My knees gave out, and I crumpled onto the bed.
“Galin!” Rian rushed to me.
“Wait.” I held up my hand.
He came to a halt a foot before me. “What did I do?”
“It wasn't you,” I said wearily. “It was the castle. It brought back bad memories. Things that I didn't realize were soterrible. Give me a second to process. Fuck.” I rubbed a hand over my face. “I've never experienced something like that. I lost myself briefly. Couldn't think straight.”
Rian pulled went to the chair near the window and sat down. “Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere.”
