She sticks her tongue out at me and flits away quickly when I struggle to reach out to push her.
“Take a bath with the blue oil when you get to your room. It helps with the muscle soreness, and don’t forget your healing tonic,” she calls to me as we go our separate ways, her into the city, and me, straight for a bath before getting some dinner.
My leathers are coated in dirt, and I push the loose hairs back from my forehead as I trudge through the throne room. Lachlan materializes from the greenish shadow beside thethrone and strides right for me.I am not in the mood for this right now.I clutch my sore stomach and make a beeline for the hallway.
“Lena,” his voice echoes across the empty throne room, and I halt but don’t turn towards him. I miss him desperately, but I don’t think I’m ready to face this yet.
“Lena, please, may I speak with ye?”
My head hangs, and I struggle to control my rising fury. We are stuck here together until the magic returns from my presence or war erupts. I need to figure out how to make peace with his presence. Lachlan’s hand grazes under my elbow, and I slowly turn to face him. His eyes are swimming with misery. The tattoos on his arms ripple when he flexes his hands into fists. I realize now that when we were in the human realm, he never wore anything but long sleeves.
My brow furrows, and I study him closely for anything else I hadn’t noticed before.
I don’t understand how I ever assumed he was human. His size, strength, and unnaturally good looks, it was all so blatantly obvious.
“I am so sorry. I was ordered not to tell ye. But ye have to believe me, I wanted to more than anything.”
I purse my lips as my eyes narrow. Anger is rearing its ugly head again.
“I’m not ready to have this conversation with you,” I grit out.
He nods quickly. “I understand. I just needed to tell ye that I am so sorry, Key. I never wanted to hurt ye.”
The use of my nickname makes me snap my mouth shut. I ball my hands into fists at my side. The urge to punch his stupidly perfect face surges through me.
“Again,”I glare at him, “I am not ready to speak to you. And don’t fucking call me that.”
I turn on my heel and stalk from the throne room.
The sight of my door causes me to sigh deeply. My room,mysanctuary. I shut the door quietly behind me this time and take deep breaths, working to change my mindset like Mina taught me. But I also pick through my emotions like Torin showed me.
I am angry, but I don’t have to be.
I can accept this and move on. He will not disrupt my peace right now. Slipping into the bathroom, I strip my boots off before turning on the tub. The blue vial that Mina suggested is sitting on the marble ledge by the window, and I dump the entire thing into the bath. The room immediately smells heavenly, and I inhale the chamomile scent.
A knock on my door startles me, and I lurch upright. I swear to the gods, if Lachlan followed me here, I really will punch him in the face. I throw open the door.
“What?” But I’m surprised to find Odessa standing there. “Oh, sorry, I thought you were someone else.”
Her expression is a mix of irritation and disgust. “Ah, I see,” she replies, a bit coldly, tugging at the neckline of her silver-blue gown. “I was hoping you and I could train together tomorrow, and wanted to ask if that’s something you would agree to?”
It’s phrased as a question, but it’s obvious she expects me to say yes. “Yeah, that would be great. Are you sure you’re not too busy?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “No, I’m curious to observe the progress of your training. There are rumors circulating that you are training with others.”
“Oh, umm, yes, a few people had offered, and I didn’t think there was any harm in it if I’m going to stay here, ya know?” I reply.
I do not understand why she seems upset. Isn’t that what she wanted from me? To stay here?
“So you have decided to stay with us even after magic restores?” She crosses her arms over her chest, and her eyebrow arches.
“I have given it some thought, and you were right. Myresponsibilities and duties lie here, and if there’s a chance I could bring stability to this realm, then I should honor my birthright,” I reply, steel in my veins.
But her reaction to this conversation is not at all what I expected.
“I see,” she replies curtly. “Well then, I will assess your training tomorrow, and from there, we can plan your official coronation.”
She turns on her heel and leaves me standing there with my brow furrowing.
