*Raven*Melany and I spend the entire day together, and I even have the opportunity to meet her mother, Anya. She invites me to dinner, which I happily accept, not eager to go back to my empty home. When I do eventually leave very late that evening, I realize that the ache of being away from Kieran
We both laugh at this, and she tells me the bears mostly stick to the mountains now, since King Gavin burned down so much of the forest. “So many of the animals left,” she says sadly as we walk through lush trees and overgrown grass. “And how could we blame them? Our water was poisoned, and the for
*Kieran*The sun is high in the sky when we finally reach the castle. After days of travel, my home should be a welcome sight, but I can only think of the lives that were lost to build this place. This is not a home, I realize for the first time in my life. It’s a monument to my father’s ego. This c
They barely respond at all. Mother looks at her nails in boredom, and my father’s face doesn’t change at all. He’s still just looking at me with a stoic expression. “Yes, well,” he says, clearing his throat. “That is, of course, terrible news.” “Terrible,” my mother echoes in a monotone. “Terrible
There’s a loud knock on my front door, and I’m so exhausted I have to actually take a moment to remember where I am. Thankfully, my eyes have gotten very used to the dark, and I manage to make it to the door without turning on any of the lights. Mother is on the other side with a steaming mug of tea
It’s all a bit overwhelming, knowing that I’ve done this, yet the pride swells in my chest nonetheless. When the animals have all dispersed, Mother smiles brightly at me and pulls me into a long embrace. “You’ve done so well, my love,” she whispers into my ear. She pulls back slightly and I see a m
*Kieran*The walk to the dungeon is colder and darker than I remember. It’s always been dingy, sure. Truthfully, I’ve only ever come down to chastise Raven for being here when she shouldn’t or yell at her father. How did she stand it, I wonder. The stench alone is enough to send people running in th
“And tell me, should I be calling you son, now?” he asks in barely more than a whisper. I nod curtly. “We were wed before I left. Perhaps we’ll celebrate again when you can join us,” I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face as I remember my wedding. I can’t wait to get this over with so I