I narrow my eyes. “No.”
“Yes.”
“Nope. I’m not asking for her to heal me again.”
“Koen.” His voice drops, serious now. “If you want to survive these trials, you can’t afford to be stubborn.”
I grind my teeth. The last thing I want is to owe Princess Serenya any favors. Though, unfortunately for me, he’s right.
We slip through the shadowed halls of the palace, doing our best to avoid the guards on patrol. My boots are quieter than his, but he waves off my irritation. “Some of the guards are friends. If they see us, they’ll look the other way.”
The palace stretches endlessly, its corridors hushed in the late hour. My bruises throb with each step, the echo of fists still fresh in my bones.
Finally, we climba narrow stairwell that winds higher than I expect. At the landing, a tall wooden door stands beforeus, carved with curling patterns of vines and stars.
I frown. “Isn’t a princess supposed to have a guard posted outside her chambers?”
Torin rubs the back of his neck. “Um…yeah. It’s supposed to be me tonight.”
I give him a look, and he grimaces before knocking on the door.
Chapter 10
?---- Serenya ? ----?
I decideagainst going to dinner. Mother won’t be happy, but maybe she’ll understand. My chest is already tight at the idea of another forced smile, another polite laugh. I don’t have the strength tonight.
I give the guards a smile that doesn’t reach my eyes as they open the doors for me. They bow when I pass, as always, and I nod back in acknowledgment. The grand hall yawns before me, warm torchlight dancing across the walls. For a moment, I consider going left toward my tower chambers, crawling into bed, and shutting the world away. Instead, I keep walking straight ahead, then right, down the familiar corridor to my parents’ chambers.
I reach their doors at the same time as Anna, one of the royal healers. She startles slightly, then dips into a bow. She’s a few inches shorter than my five-nine.
“Good evening, Your Highness,” she says softly.
“Please, Anna, rise. And you can just call me Serenya.” I soften my words with a smile, trying to ease her stiffness.
She straightens, smiling back as some of her chestnut hair slips free from her braid.
“You may take the rest of the evening off. I’ll tend to my father tonight.”
She gives me a knowing smile before she bows again. “Of course. Thank you, Princess Serenya.”
Her footsteps fade down the corridor, leaving me with the guards in front of the heavy carved doors. They push them open quietly, soas not to disturb my father if he’s sleeping. The air inside smells faintly of smoke and the lavender oil my mother prefers. I pad toward the bedroom and knock softly before slipping inside.
The only sound is the fire crackling in the hearth. My father sits propped up against the headboard, black hair falling just lower than his shoulders, a book open in his hands. He looks up, and the way his face lights when he sees me makes my eyes fill with tears again.
“Renya,” he says, smiling. “I thought you had dinner with the champions tonight.”
I climb up onto the bed, sitting cross-legged to face him. “I’m skipping it.”
He raises a brow, about to scold, but I rush ahead.
“I know, I know. I shouldn’t skip it. But I just…” I trail off, searching for the words. “I just couldn’t. I’m so tired, Father. Not physically. Just…here.” I tap my temple, then press my palm briefly to my chest. “I didn’t feel like pretending tonight. I didn’t feel like forcing a smile.”
His gaze softens, all sternness gone. “I know a great deal about forced smiles in this court. Do you want to talk about it?”
I consider it for a heartbeat. I almost give in, but tonight, I don’t want to unravel myself. I just want to be.
“I think I’d rather not think about it.” I nod toward his book. “Will you read to me while I heal you?”
