Sol let her work her pain through his body, almost relishing the chance to feel an anger and desperation he could not express.
Out of habit, he bit his tongue so as not to yell out in pain. He knew he needn’t have bothered, because the gem would have silenced him anyway.
But he refused to let them see him break.
The moments passed surprisingly quickly, and Sol felt her magic loosen its hold on his body.
He slumped forward over his knees, dropping his head to the ground with a dull thump, since his hands were not free to catch him.
The external pain in his head was not worth noticing. It was expected, even. No one ever caught him when he fell.
Another stab of pain flowed through his chest, but this one was not physical. Meena had literally made a jest earlier that morning about carrying his weight so he didn’t have to.
“He is a Majis,” Ezra said, her voice emotionless. “Though I imagine he does not feel close to harmony right now.”
“So, Solano is the missing Sol.” Younn sounded quite pleased with himself.
Grasping the last bit of defiance he still held, Sol lifted shoulders, stretching his neck up to meet her gaze once more.
He wanted her to see his hatred. He wanted her to think she had not broken him, even though he knew otherwise.
Only something whole could be broken, and he had never considered himself whole.
Until Meena.
Until Meena had offered him something whole.
And what was whole could be broken.
Ezra’s cold eyes held his for longer than necessary. Her gaze flickered once, as though she would tell him something, but she blinked and the look passed.
Sol spat, his saliva landing on the ground at her feet.
“Are you sure you don’t want to do the siphoning?” Younn asked.
“Don’t tempt me,” Ezra responded, taking a step back. “We are finished here. Send him north. Our king will be pleased with you.”
“Pleased with me?” Younn’s voice was slightly uncomfortable.
“I helped you clean up the mess you made, Councilor. I trust you won’t forget it.”
Chapter 31
Dressed in her second finest gown, Meena waited for Laila to come help with her hair. The maid never arrived, so Meena did it herself. It was not quite fancy enough for the evening’s festivities, but perhaps she could get Laila to redo it before then.
She didn’t have time to wait around now, there was too much to be done.
She sailed out of her room, pinching her face in concentration.
“Ezra!” she called as her host entered the front door of the manse. “Exactly whom I wanted to see!”
“Princess?” Ezra froze for a moment, still holding the door latch. “I did not expect to see you looking, so, put together.”
“I have cried all my tears, my dear friend,” Meena said dramatically. “I was hoping you could help to cheer me up before the festivities this evening.”
“Oh, you do not have to attend the feast tonight,” Ezra replied, stepping inside and seemingly recovered from her reticence a moment earlier.
“Not you, too!” Meena wailed. “What do you expect me to do all evening? Stay in my room, our room ... alone?” She stifled a sob. “No. I am going to the feast tonight to distract myself.”
