Page 49 of The Nightmare Queen

“I’m not apologizing for it.”His voice meets my ears instead of the walls of my mind and when I turn there he stands in the shadowed doorway. Those two hazel eyes are glued to my bloodstained leg as he walks my way and takes a seat on the floor. “She’s the reason, right? Your mother? What I saw…”

"You already know that answer.”I whisper into his mind, hoping maybe he won’t really hear it. But when he shifts uncomfortably on the ground, I know he heard. Rough fingertips reach back and graze the fresh cuts lightly. “Do not pity me.” I bite out.

The touch is gone as soon as its there and his hand back in his lap as he stares blankly ahead. “I don’t." I bite my lip to keep it from quivering. I am not about to show any other kinds of emotion in front of him again. "You should get a healer mage for that.” He suggests and all I can do is shake. He can’t see me, but he gives me a quiet grunt of understanding anyways. “Then let me at least bandage it up.” He gets up and walks into the bathroom returning with a kit in his hands. I squint my eyes at him, unsure of the idea until he angles his head at me with a plea in his gaze. My face tilts back to the window and he starts dabbing at the cuts I've made. Thankfully, the healing balm he's applying numbs the area fairly quickly and he finishes by setting a patch bandage on top of the cuts.

“You never got back to me or your captains on what you want to do. I’m guessing my going rogue again is out of the question?” He dusts off his hands and packs the kit back up. After putting the kit back in the bathroom he snags two blankets and a pillow off the bed. Handing me one blanket he keeps the other and the pillow for himself and stretches out on the floor underneath the sill.

“We’ll discuss it in the morning.” He finally says.

“It is morning — wh-what are you doing?” I ask.

He folds his arms behind his head and snuggles deeper into his spot. “Keeping an eye on my leverage.” He says matter of factly. Irritation flares in my chest at the reminder that I am on loan to him right now, a tool to be used.

If only he knew the only reason he has access to me is because I need access to Vellar. Then we’ll see who’s being used.

Rorin

I left the room after only a few hours on the floor.

Exhaustion took me under again once I was seated at my desk until Bennett woke me up. According to him, Eveera’s military had arrived. They’d managed to speed up their travels thanks to Armond making them aware of the hot spots to avoid. I quickly throw myself together and we head down to the stables. I want eyes on the two armies cohabitating with one another.

The door to my bedroom was still closed and I figured after the night Eveera had it would be best to not disturb her, figuring that someone would come to get her eventually. Imagine my surprise when I come down to the stables and find her already in them. From where I stand I can hear parts of the conversation she's having with Ezra. I’d love to say it was hard to eavesdrop but the blonde’s voice carries, “—hide it better next time, Eveera. I don’t want to be woken up a second time by your new toy bitching about something he has no business knowing.”

Her head falls back, a laugh rattling her chest, “unbelievable. So the only reason he could have possibly noticed is because you thinkI’m fucking him?!”She shouts.

“Wait—you slept with him?!” Axel exclaims, his finger landing on me as he walks into the stables.

I step out around the corner of my horse's stall, leaning against the wood. “Slept with who, again?” I ask, smugly.

Axel points again for emphasis, “YOU!” He shouts.

Eveera grabs her guard’s hand dragging it down to his side. “No, Axel, I did not sleep with him!”

I can’t help the grin that twitches at the corner of my mouth. “Well…I mean technically last night after everything…” I tease.

She shoots me a scathing look before snapping. “Stop it.” My mouth breaks out into a broad smile as Axel’s jaw drops. The fact that she is so offended only makes me want to drag this on more.

Ezra huffs and hoists himself in his saddle, looking down at her. “All I know is we were woken up, raked over the damn coals and there you were being paraded around like some half naked animal clawing at his arms and back. Looked like you were in some sort of sick lovers spat.”

Even from several feet away I notice her hands are flexing in and out trying to control her Wield enough to climb up on her horse. “Well thank you for thinking me a whore, Ezra. Truly. But I am not sleeping with him,” she shoots me another scowl, “not that that would be your concern. Secondly, we are here for a job and you arerepeatedlydiverting from it with your need to claim me like I’m some prized broodmare!” He looks so stricken it's like she slapped him across the face. “Set aside your personal grievances, I am tired of your hysterics, Commander Wake.”

He huffs again and swivels his horse around, storming off towards base alone. I mount my horse and sidle up next to her.“They think we’re sleeping together?”I ask.

She rolls her eyes, “that’s all you gathered?”

“Let me be clear,"I start my horse passing by hers,"if we were sleeping together – there wouldn’t be any confusion around it. From anyone. Least of all you.”

She snorts from behind me. “Good thing we aren’t sleeping together then.”

“Good thing.”

The briefing tent is a full house; my captains, Bennett, and Will were all standing with as much space between them and our guests as possible. The Obsids stand off by the tent's exit. Their stand stoically, her captains looking just as fearsome as their Vast counterparts.

Where I have common folk fighting our battles, these men, women, and beings are hardened soldiers. Battle-worn soldiers. The years of fighting the outer land creatures evident on their faces and in their eyes.

“Ah-hem. I trust you’ve all had a moment to acquaint yourselves.” I ask, followed by a round of nods. “The reality is—”

“The reality is,” Eveera cuts in, “the battle plans you Vellarans have are shit.”Subtle,I think. “Truth be told I don’t have any idea how you’re all still alive. Especially with those weapons they pulled out on us yesterday. What would you have done if we hadn’t come in to save your asses…”

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