Page 33 of Powerful

‘Mak…’ Adena’s voice is barely a whisper, barely audible over my shaky breaths.

‘I didn’t deserve to smile. That is what he told me.’ My voice grows quieter with each word slipping from my past and haunting my present. ‘I don’t remember the sword swinging towards me, only his voice when he promised to wipe that smile from my face.’

My thumb finds the scar cutting my lips and shakily traces it. ‘It was after he cut me that Hera and I ran. I… I didn’t know what he would do to her, and I couldn’t wait around to see if he would make good on his promise to sell me to the king.’

I can’t look at her, not after what I’ve said. ‘Hera and I survived in the slums for several years before we were able to afford a real roof over our heads.’ Still avoiding her sorrowful stare, I add, ‘I forced myself to control theoverwhelming power. Learned to hide in plain sight. And then I become a blacksmith, just to spite my father. So, something good came out of it.’

My eyes squeeze shut when her fingers graze my chin.

She turns my face towards her despite my resistance. Her palm is soft against my cheek, foreign in its comfort. But when her thumb brushes my scar, I finally meet her gaze.

‘He stole your smile,’ she whispers, tears clinging to dark lashes. ‘No wonder you didn’t have one to give me.’

Regret rams into me once again, her words a reminder of every missed opportunity to make her smile with one of my own. ‘I’ll find one,’ I murmur. ‘Steal it back if I must. For you.’

Her lips lift, eyes shining with tears. ‘And I’ll cherish it.’

Her thumb is warm against my skin as it continues to trace the scar, creating new memories to associate with it. After a long stretch of silence, she allows herself a quiet question. ‘Where are they now? Your parents?’

I shrug slightly as though I don’t think of it daily. ‘I’m not sure. Probably in that same house on the oppositeside of the slums. But I’ve hidden from them for years, masking myself in the masses. And I’m not dead yet, so I figured Father never made it to the king.’ I scoff. ‘They must be satisfied enough with my absence.’

She nods slowly, taking in my words before making a proclamation of her own. ‘You are far from useless. You are strong and clever and can really pull off an Imperial uniform. In the best way possible.’ Her eyes are full of fire even with her thumb still pressed against my lips. ‘And no one can take away your smile. It’s yours to give, Mak.’

I grab her wrist, gently pulling it down enough for me to speak. ‘Makoto.’

Her lashes flutter. ‘W-What?’

‘Makoto,’ I mutter. She squeaks when I tug her towards me with the wrist I’m still holding and a hand behind her knee. ‘My name is Makoto Khitan.’ Her eyes widen, closer to mine then they ever have been. ‘Now you can properly scold me.’

I hear her swallow. ‘And what else should I know about you, Makoto?’

Tilting my head in a sort of shrug, I say, ‘This may come as a shock to you, but I can be a bit… blunt at times.’

She smiles encouragingly. ‘Self-awareness is the first step to change.’

‘Oh, I’m not planning on changing. I was just ensuring that you knew this was a recurring thing. Now, what else?’ I sigh. ‘I’ve never been able to skip properly, not sure why that is or why I’m embarrassed about that fact. Oh, I’m not a fan of spoons, only forks. I enjoy radishes more than the average person. And I’ve never been much good with a bow.’

I watch her reactions to my words – how they start in her eyes before spreading to the rest of her face. ‘Go on. I know there’s more.’

‘Sorry, hun. Your turn.’ My eyes flick between hers. ‘I’m going to need some details in return.’

She smiles, effortlessly dazzling. ‘Oh, well, that might take a while.’

‘You really think I was going to get any sleep down here?’ I raise my eyebrows. ‘No, I have every intention of talking about you till morning.’

And then I take a slow breath, allowing myself something that I haven’t had any desire to do before meeting her.

And, terrifyingly, it comes easily.

I smile.

CHAPTER 13Adena

‘Pae is not going to be happy about you scrubbing the tub.’

I singsong my warning, smiling at her crouched form as I say it.

With brown hair tied up in a knot, Ellie whips her head towards me, sending wispy strands blowing into her eyes. ‘Then she never need know about it.’

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