Inside this room are the people whose efforts will help me find a way home. I take a deep, bracing breath, and knock. Nothing. I knock again, almost a bang on the door, that makes it open a little. Oh. Maybe they didn’t hear me? Alright. I’ll just go inside then. I open the door— And pain expl
“I’m looking for the fourth Prince and Lord Sigmond.” I say, because I might as well ask for directions “Do you know where they are?” The three of them exchange uncertain looks. I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose with a thumb and forefinger. “Forget it. I’ll find them on my own.” I turn away f
I can’t see where we’re going. “Ow! Watch it!” “You watch it! It’s the third time you’ve bumped into me, Cassain!” “You liar, it’s you who’s been bumping into me, Gab!” “Ugh. Stop calling me that! My full name is so much more beautiful!” “You’re gross, man.” The tunnel is so narrow that we can
“Quit yapping around!” Derik snaps, loudly, almost making me jump. “Get a move on already!” With that, he turns to his heel and stomps forward, into the thick trees. The rest of us follow. “Where are we?” I ask Lukas “The backside of the Imperial City. It’s an old forest that many people have los
“That doesn’t look like a normal bump in the wall.” He says, scrutinizing the wound and reaches out a hand as if he’s going to probe it I brush his hand away before it reaches, “I’m alright. Though I would need something to cover it with. I imagine it makes me too recognizable.” Zen looks at me fo
“It must’ve been hard for you, Mr. Heisen.” Lukas picks up his cup, observes the tea and sets it back down “If you don’t mind, could we see Raiden’s usual lodging?” “Err, that’s a bit,” Mr. Heisen looks away, twisting his mustache Zen pulls a heavy bag from his belt and sets it on the table. Clink
I whip my head up to look at him “You spied on these people?” “After they never responded to the letters, I asked a few close acquaintances to dig up their whereabouts.” Lukas says, not guilty in the least “I wouldn’t call it spying if it’s for the safety of the country. It’s more of an undisclosed
Thunder roars above our heads. Lady Starcovesky growls lowly “We are not murders, boy. We aren’t going to harm the girl.” Zen says nothing, only looks down at her icily. The expression on his face is inscrutable, and if it wasn’t for the utter stillness of his frame, I would think he’s as calm as
I barely manage to find a waste bucket before everything I had for breakfast retches out. My throat burns. My vision is blurry. I dry heave every single thing in my stomach, warmth seeps out of the corners of my eyes. I can’t breathe. The smell of blood is everywhere. I sit there, holding the edges
The smell of rotting flesh is disgusting. Its muscle memory to pull the gloves over my hands, pick a scalpel off the medical tray. The body on the metal table in front of me has no head. ‘You have to take a sample of flesh, a sample of blood and take a look at the internal organs.’ Aunt Cynthia’s
How adorable. Apparently, I’m the only one who thinks so, since when I turn back around, everyone from the fourth prince and the first order to passing strangers and our coachman is looking on in disbelief. Is it so difficult to imagine Zen would get along with children? “Don’t leave your mouth ha
“My Lady, am I mistaken or is the fourth prince avoiding me?” I look up from knotting the satchel to my belt to face Zen. There’s a slight furrow in his brows, and he looks at Lukas, standing far, far from us and talking with the first order soldiers. The fourth prince has indeed, been avoiding Ze
I need to move. But even as I think that, I cant bring myself to move. He’s holding me too firmly, I think, entirely reasonable. I won’t be able to slip away like this. Even the most critical part of me can’t find that to be entirely an excuse. After last night, I doubt there’s anyone who would lik
I wake up to the sound of a door knock. My sleep hazed brain registers the sound, recognizes it, and promptly ignores it in favor of cuddling into the warmth of my bed once more. I don’t want to wake up just yet, since last night I fell asleep so late— Last night? My eyes open, blurry with sleep,
But he’s looking at me now, as if the answer might crush him, as if he’s bracing himself for it. I reach out to drape my arms over his shoulders gently, they hang down in front of his chest lightly. “Why? Because you did your job?” I ask quietly, hold his gaze “Or because you didn’t hesitate to do
“Lift your arm, please.” I say, and my voice comes out soft If we weren’t sitting so close to each other, I would’ve missed it. His shoulders tense up, the even breathing stilled into nothing. “You don’t have to do that, Dinah.” Zen finally says My brows furrow. Zen might be a warrior among warri
On the second floor hallway of the hotel, my eyes drift to the room where Zen is supposed to be. My room is just at its side. I wonder if I knock on his door right now, would he be annoyed? He did ask not to be disturbed. The image of his bloodied arm flashes in my mind. Just a moment. I just want