My heart thumps.
“Prince Castor. No.King!” She beams. “You should have a wholesystem, too. So your subjects can swear their loyalty to you. You need a government, with less constricting rules!”
I chuckle. “I do not have any subjects to impose rules upon, hatchling.”
“Because you don’t have asystem,” she insists. “Cael has a whole entire oath to join hiseclipse, which is another thing you need.”
“An…eclipse?”
“A cool name for your subjects.”
Ah, right, yes. Of course. A cool name for the subjects, that I do not have.
I can hardly think of a single more important thing for me to put energy into.
I throw open a window, letting Frelsi exit first before I launch myself out and glide to the grass below. Deciding I’d really like to change the topic, I say, “So. Rat entrails?”
“It was beautiful.”
I pull her into the first of many trods leading home and murmur, “I’m sure it was.” In its own way. In a way that Cael doesn’t understand.
As the sensation of my soulmate grows closer with every step, I think I’m okay with the idea of Cael not understanding something that I do.
For the first time in my life, I’m making peace with the idea that I might always be misunderstood by people I consider to be important. So long as Danielle wants to understand me, though, that’s all that matters.
Chapter 28
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sweet little mate o’ mine.
I don’t believe I’ve ever been this exhausted before in my life. With Frelsi sleeping peacefully on my reheated penguin, I know relief, on multiple levels. Firstly, she’s home and safe. And secondly? Secondly, I…survived.
I survived horrors. Agony. Sobbing through abysmal torture while Zahra held Castor back at the door to the bathroom and Frel—who wasn’t born with boundaries—clung to my hair and offered me all the strength she had in her little body.
Now, finally, the lingering pain is nearly manageable, and we are both completely worn.
After the risk of having Castor barge in on me during the blood bath had passed, Zahra headed home with promise of starting up a late stream to help distract me from the residual discomfort. I’m too tired to tune in right now, but the knowledge that it’s happening settles peace into my weary veins.
I am safe. I am loved. I am surrounded by warmth and care.
Dragging my heavy eyelids open, I find Castor sprawled on my giant teddy bear, head propped on its tan shoulder, fingers laced against his waist.
My soulmate is here, with me, in the bars of my cage, listening to an audiobook that I’m sure would turn my insides into soup.
Sniffling, I watch him.
Immediately, he removes an earbud and pauses his book. “Mine?”
My chest trembles. “Mm?”
“What’s wrong, darling?” Soft, sweet, soothing.
Nothing iswrong. Not now. Notafter. I’m just…happy. Swallowing hard, I say, “Hormones. Mood swings. Like Pollux warned. I’m fine.” I temper my breaths, focus on not crying. “Are you okay?”
“Me?”
I nod. “I felt some complicated emotions when you went to get Frel.” I cover my face. “I’m sorry I asked you to. I was just…getting worried. And I missed her. And…”
