Page 15 of King

The dryads shake the limbs of their great trees to create a path to guide us. I whisper my gratitude to them as we walk, stuck in uncomfortable silence again. I’m not sure how to break the tension this time since Vaegon has drifted off in my arms.

Durin clears his throat. I look up and find his eyes fixed on the ground as he speaks. “Did the Prime hurt you?”

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “You came for me in time.”

He lets out a long breath, and some of the tension falls from his shoulders. “Good.”

His next question takes a few moments to get out. I remember how horrible it felt when he rejected me. It seemed like I’d done something wrong and changed the way he felt about me. He’s probably worried about how I see him now. I’ll give him the time he needs to find his words, but I’ll be ready to speak up for him if his courage falters.

“How much do you hate me?” he finally asks, still avoiding my eyes.

I shift Vaegon to my other arm but continue walking to makeDurin more comfortable. “I don’t hate you at all,” I say honestly. “I was hurt when I found out. I would have preferred to hear it from you instead of a piece of shit Alpha in front of the whole pack he dragged me back to.”

“I’m so sorry,” he whispers, closing his eyes. “I kept trying to tell you, but I lost my courage every time. I thought you’d send me away. The thought of never seeing you again was even more debilitating after I learned about Vaegon.”

I look down at the pup’s peaceful face. “I understand that. And I finally understand why you rejected me.”

He steps in front of me, bringing my steps to a halt. His hands brush along my arms softly, sending chills across my skin. But he pulls them away too soon, as if he’s not sure he should be touching me.

“I was rejecting myself, Rue. Never you,” he says firmly. “I wanted you so badly. I always have. But you deserve better than me. Someone clean. Someone pure.”

He turns away and begins walking again, unable to face what he considers the truth. My heart cracks to know he’s been feeling this way about himself. He doesn’t know just how well I can relate. I never told him why I hated the Prime so much. Out of my own shame, I kept what was intended for me a secret. He has no idea that I was running from a very similar nightmare to the one he’s been living.

“Durin,” I say, reaching for his arm to stop him. “I didn’t tell you everything, either.”

He stops and looks back at me quietly, searching my face for answers.

“The Prime…” I pause, needing a breath before I can continue. “The Prime shares his Omega mate with his Alphas. All of his Alphas. His last mate was so destroyed that she snuck away, looking for someone or something to kill her. She succeeded. So, the Prime decided to take the next Omega whopresented as his new mate.”

The look of horror on his face makes me want to comfort him. But the tension in his posture holds me back.

“It was you…” he says. “You presented first. That’s why you ran.”

I reach out and take his hand, locking my fingers with his. “Yes, that’s why I ran. But running wasn’t an option for you, was it? Not if you wanted to help everyone who needs you.”

I can’t imagine what he’s had to endure at the hands of that evil bitch. The patience he’s had all this time, waiting until the right moment to strike, is incredible. He must want to rip her to shreds every second of every day.

“I should have killed that wolf when he first stepped in my way,” he growls, gripping my hand tighter.

I’m shocked to find his anger directed at Bock, not the queen. He’s thinking of me, even though he’s been wronged far worse.

“You saved me from him,” I say, pulling his hand against my chest. “You couldn’t escape your scars, but you prevented mine.”

His free hand is clenched in a fist, telling me he’s not convinced. “Thank you for saying that,” he says. “But I’m stained. I can never wash away what she’s forced me to do. It will cling to me for the rest of my life. You shouldn’t have to settle for me.”

I realize the trees have stopped rustling. It’s like the dryads are patiently waiting for us to finish. I’m grateful for the moment because Durin cannot be allowed to hold onto those thoughts. They’re so wrong.

As much as I hate Bock, one thing he said was true.There’s no shame in something you had no control over.I need to convince Durin of that before he spends another second feeling this way.

“Our bodies can be dirty, but nothing can soil the soul. The only filth that can stain us is from within, born from a wicked heart. Things that happento youcannot tarnish you.”

His brow creases as he considers my words. There’s so much shame and anger on his face. But there’s also a spark of hope.

“If I’d stayed and accepted my fate,” I rush to continue, “I wouldn’t feel like I was unclean. They could take my freedom and what they wanted from my body, but they could never strip me of my purity. That comes from my soul.”

He reaches out and gently strokes Vaegon’s hair, seeming to find comfort in the motion. I think my words are reaching him, but I don’t want to give him the chance to argue.

“Your heart is far purer than mine. I was okay with the next Omega suffering in my place. I ran from my fate because I was proud. You faced yours to help others.”

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