“I can stay with you tonight,” she offered.
“No, no, it’s okay.” Rosie looked at me warily. “I’m serious,” I added. “Besides, I think I could use a night to myself.”
She fiddled with her braids, looking me over. “Are you sure?” she asked sweetly.
“I really am.”
And I meant it. I needed time to process, I needed to have at least a few more breakdowns where I could wallow in self-pity, and then I needed to get myself together. I planned to make a long to-do list, and if I didn’t focus all of my energy on the work ahead, I didn’t think I could keep my heart from sinking right out of my chest.
“Okay, I believe you. But I’m going to check on you tomorrow. And I will be helping you with setting your affairs in order. I don’t care how hard you fight me on that.” She wagged her finger in my face. I nodded along in resignation.
“Where’d your protector run off to?” Rosie scanned the crowd. The shadow was, indeed, nowhere to be seen. Thank the Goddess (a different one, not Eldrene). Maybe they wouldalso stay to hear Acorn Nutties play far too loud music for the rest of the night, and I wouldn’t have to deal with them until the morning.
As I looked around, I noticed that the entirety of Moss planned to stay for the after-party. Many of the other towns had vacated after Eldrene vanished, but Moss did love its late-night festivities.
Good; no one would hear me weeping through the streets on my walk home for the night.
Rosie gave me one last hug, then made to rejoin the crowd.
And when I thought she couldn’t see me anymore, I ran for my life, up the long staircase, through the two willows, and into the night.
There’s just something really special about shoving your mortal enemy into a small body of water.
—opening line attempt 21
I didn’t make it three feet past the entrance before I slammed into something. Someone, that is. That same damned shadow.
Hesper Altanfall.
My protector.
Even thinking the words made me sick to my stomach. Anger flooded my system, drowning out my fear and sadness. They were everything I’d lost, everything that had just been pushed on me against my will, my worst nightmare personified. Everyone who had ever said they would protect me never did. In fact, they’d done the opposite. I didn’t need another iteration of my parents traipsing around on this quest with me. I’d learned the hard way that it was either get along by myself or get hurt.
“I hate you.” This was a good start. Could I be consideredout of bounds right about now? Perhaps. But my world had freshly shattered to shite moments ago, so.
Hesper let out a low chuckle.
“I figured as much,” they said, turning away and beginning to walk ahead of me.
“Excuse me, where are you going?”
“To your home.” Like hells they were. I didn’t care what Eldrene said, I would not be escorted back to my own cottage by this inconvenience.
“You’re mistaken,” I said, trying to keep pace with them. Goddess, how long were their legs? They were walking at a leisurely pace, but even still, I practically jogged to keep up. “I do not need you to take me back to my own house, sir. Or ma’am. Whatever you are.”
“I’m not taking you back,” they replied, slowing their pace so that I didn’t have to keep running.
“But you just said—”
“Weare going back to your cottage.”
I stopped in my tracks.We?
“I—you—we—no. Just no. I don’t know you, and I don’t need you.” I poked my finger into their hard chest.
“I know you don’t, trust me. I’m sure you could more than manage the walk back.” Their hand rested atop mine, and suddenly, they pulled me in close to them. “But I’m on Eldrene’s orders. From this night forward, I can’t leave your side.” Their hot breath smelled like spices. “We leave in two weeks, but my job starts now.”
They leaned in closer. “You’re just going to have to get used to me, princess.”
