Ival murmured, “How out of control were you?”
“They managed to heal those who got in my way.”
“Oh.So,hewas mad.”
“An understatement.”
The king was looking at them and started smiling.“You found her.”
“Riithan found me.Apparently, the bite is well-known enough to be identified at a glance.”
The king blinked.“You are not engaging in formalities?”
“No.Nor will I.As the most vulnerable of your citizens, you allowed me to be sent to Uradda to be tortured and incarcerated until they knew if I was human enough for them.If I hadn’t escaped, I would have been dead decades ago, and all because of my honourable uncle and the raving bitch that he called a wife.”She delivered the entire thing in a cheerful, singsong tone.“The stronghold offered me no protection.No safety.Even though my father died in its service.”
She smiled and looked at him.
He paused and nodded.“You are correct.You should not have left the stronghold.Your aunt has been imprisoned now that we know her part in your mother’s death.You lost everything, and we offered you nothing to help a child alone.Your family should have protected you, but we understand your grandparents were prostrate with grief.”
Her grandparents hung their heads.Ival sighed.“That is correct.They had lost their son.They were allowed the time to grieve.There was no reason for my uncle to discard me.It wasn’t something that would have been thought possible.Is my uncle around?I would like to chat with him.”
“Are you safe like that?I was led to believe you were toxic.”
“My body was reacting to a constant threat level that began when I was a child and didn’t stop until eight years ago.I have been physically reset to what I should have been.”
The king’s omega said, “Dear, shouldn’t we continue this inside?Perhaps over tea.”
He looked at her.“Of course.Please come with me.”
They walked inside after Riithan and Ylara.Ival was slowly walking behind them, and she was starting to feel the pressure on her feet.
Riimal saw her wincing.“Your feet?”
“Yeah.”
He picked her up and carried her.
His brother glanced back and said, “Riimal, that isn’t appropriate.”
“Excuse me, sir, but my entire body was stripped of its skin and regrown.Today is day one on new feet.This skin has no memory, so I don’t want to start its new life with pain and blood.”
She sent a request to Zera and got a reply that hadDon’t watch on a full stomachon it.
Riimal asked, “What did you just get?”
“Video from the Uraddan archives from the fights and the footage of my healing this week.”
“Oh.Got it.Wait, is that the footage of us?”
“Based on the date on the file, yes.”She smiled.“You might not want to watch that one.”
“I will watch it.I can face my fears.He also has a thought for the skin on your hands and feet.”
“He has thoughts?Interesting.”
“Very.He has many thoughts about you, but he is willing simply to restrain them to borrowing my body to live them out.”
“Oh.A time share situation.Interesting.”
