“I’m not risking people's lives on your word. Do the godsdamned work or go back to your castle.” Nyx turned and didn’t look back.
She watched in silent apprehension as Nyx stomped toward the waking town. The girl was high-strung and lived in a constant state of sassy retorts and defensive curses, but Xia recognized it for what it was– her shield.
Everyone’s armor is made of something different.
In many ways, Xia had been a princess locked in a gilded tower. She was surrounded by luxury with every basic need met. A princess, just like Nyx said. From the outside looking in, Xia had no reason to be miserable.
She will never know what it was like for us there. She may struggle for resources, but there are people who love and support her. We had nothing.
Maybe Xia had hoped she could find a kindred spirit in Nyx. Someone who could understand what it was like to have to live within a coat of armor to survive. To don something every daythat protected the softness within.
“Perhaps that’s why her words hurt.”
We do not need her.
“No,”Xia sighed.“We don’t need her, but it would be nice to have her. We’ve never been allowed the luxury of daemon connection. Do you not think it would be good to have a friend?”
Putting your trust in another is simply handing them a blade to stab you with.
Xia shut her Siren out as frustration roiled inside. They may share a mind, but that didn't mean they had to agree. Xia wanted Nyx’s friendship, and so she would keep trying.
“I just have to give her time and change her mind.” She talked aloud as she worked to fill the water pails. She wasn’t sure what the townspeople did after boiling, and Nyx didn’t seem to trust that it was clean, so she did what she was told. Xia could have had it done in minutes, but instead she worked with her hands to pass the time and soothe her mind.
Collecting and filling the buckets had been the easy part. Carrying them back to their homes, however, was a different chore. The weight pulled at her shoulders, and she had to take more than one in each hand to finish before sundown.
By the fifth trip she was sweating. By the tenth she feared her heart would jump out of her chest.
When the fifteenth came around, a brush of shadow curled against her chaos and whispered,“Is everything okay?”
Xia leaned against a barrel and wiped the sweat beading along her brow.“I’m fine,”she huffed.“Just doing some manual labor.”
“Good. I’ve only known one thing to make our hearts race like this, and I thought I was going to have to come–”
“Do nothing,”Xia scolded.
“You’re right. I could at least stand behind in case you needed me.”
“No need. Unless you want to come help carry these buckets of water.”
“Sorry. I have to clean between my toes, and that takes ages. Rain check?”
“Have I ever told you that you’re insufferable?”
“A few different ways, actually, and a lot of different times, but it’s a good reminder, Siren. After last night, I’d say ‘insatiable’ fits better, don’t you?
“Go away or I’ll drown you.”
“Talk dirty to me!”
“Goodbye, Brooks.”
His chuckle faded as the presence of his chaos drifted from hers. She’d left him fast asleep in their shared bed. Her cheeks heated as she recalled the thin sheet draped over his thighs as the rest stayed on display. Finely corded muscle flexed as he dreamed, and the smile she caught as she rolled out of bed chased away the cold.
“Do you need some help with that?”
Startled, Xia turned toward the intruding voice to see Ruby leaning against the barrel beside her. It would seem Nyx wasn’t the only person losing track of their surroundings.
“Hey, Ruby,” Xia smiled. “I’d love a hand if you’re free. All of the barrels are full. I’ve just been filling the buckets and taking them back to their houses.”
