Page 10 of Fearless

She looks horrified by this idea. “Not looking like that, you won’t!” It takes mere seconds for the bashfulness to settle in once again. “I mean, you’ve had a very long journey and must rest—”

“I thought I’d be dead long before this moment,” I cut in evenly. “Thought I’d be skewered with a sword in that throne room. But I’m not, and I intend to find out exactly why.” My voice lowers into something far more solemn. “I may not have much life left to live, so I won’t spend it resting.”

“Okay, then,” Ellie says quietly. “No rest. But you must bathe before you show yourself to the castle again.”

Right. My entire existence has been reduced to appearances.

I nod, suddenly unable to focus on anything but the blood crusted across my skin. It will be a relief to scrub away every remnant of the traitor running for her life. Every drop of blood, sweat, and tears shed on the treacherous journey.

Heading for the bathroom, I’m suddenly spinning on my heel and blurting, “Have you heard from Lenny? I saw him during my… travels, but we got separated.”

“Right. About that.” Her gaze strays from my narrowing one. “Um, he’s here, actually.”

“What?” I choke. “Where is he?”

She pads toward me, brown bun bobbing with every step. “I’ll tell you after that bath.”

“Ellie—”

“MyLady.” She emphasizes the title with a lifted brow.

“Fine.” I huff, turning once again toward the bathroom. Then I’m calling over my shoulder, falsely cheery and absurdly genuine, “but only because the blood beneath my nails may drive me to insanity.”

CHAPTER 4Paedyn

Water drips from the ends of my short hair, reflecting its silver color to mimic molten steel when sliding from the strands.

I’d scrubbed every inch of my body, spending extra time beneath my nails and around the many jagged cuts flecking my skin. It was only when I emerged from the rapidly cooling bath water, skin raw, that Ellie hesitantly broke the news to me.

All it took was a handful of rage-filled moments to throw on thin pants, pair them with a fitted tunic, and stalk to the door. Ellie was wise enough to stay out of my path, only stepping close enough to offer an apologetic smile and a set of slipperlike shoes. They now cling to my feet as I stride down the hallway, the silk soft against my blistered feet.

Faces blur past, but my gaze never strays from that door awaiting me at the end of the corridor. Through my tunneled vision, I see him leaning against it, emanating boredom as he stares pointedly at the shiny boots beneath him.

Several seconds pass before his head jerks up suddenly, having heard my thundering footsteps with that Hyper ability. His red hair stands outstarkly against the crisp Imperial uniform fitted to his body. Even with half of his face partially concealed by the white mask, I can still see those brown eyes widen when they land on me. That is when his gaze crinkles with a mingling of joy and relief.

He straightens, spreading his arms. “Princess, glad to see you somehow made it back in one—”

My forearm meets the padded chest of his uniform, pushing him hard against the wall. My voice is a low growl that even I didn’t know I was capable of until this very moment. “What thehell, Lenny?”

“Woah,” he coos softly, hands raised in innocence. “Look, if this is about losing you in Dor, I swear I was ready to turn that city inside out to find you, but—”

“You know damn well that is not what I’m talking about,” I seethe. This is most definitely not the manner in which a future queen would conduct herself, but fortunately for me, I doubt my reputation could get any worse.

I push away from him to turn toward the door and—

Lenny blocks my path.

“Move,” I bite out.

“Well, someone’s already growing accustomed to giving orders,” he mutters, not budging an inch.

I blow out a breath. “Get out of my way, Lenny.”

“I’m sorry, Princess.” He gives me a sympathetic shake of his head. “You know I can’t do that.”

I shove him again. “Let me inside.”

“Paedyn, please. Just take a breath—”

---