Page 84 of Hidden Kingdoms

“Why did you leave your post?” Alouette’s voice held a subtle growl. Who was this woman, and how did she hold so much power?

“I didn’t!” His eyes were wide in disbelief as he stayed on his knees in front of us. “I would never leave my post, General.”

General?

“Then why were you not the one who brought her back to her room?” He took in my dishevelled appearance, and his face fell. His hand reached out slightly towards me before thinking better of it and pulled back.

“I… he said… the guard, he said I was to go back to my post. I said no, I had my own orders, but he told me the order came from the Commander. I… fuck.” His head hung in defeat, and I felt a little sorry for him—not much, just a little.

If he was acting, he was doing a fantastic job of it. Deserved a gold sticker.

“Why would you listen to him when you had your own orders?” Alouette pressed.

He looked up, and his eyes met hers. “He was wearing a two flame signet, he outranked me. I was in no position to go against him.”

She tense beside me. “Up,” she commanded. “Take yourself to the Commander, I’m sure he will enjoy a little chat.”

Face paling, he stood. “But…” he started, gesturing towards the door he had been guarding.

“You know full well thatImore than outrank you. She is safe with me. Go.”

With one last look my way, he swallowed thickly before bowing his head to Alouette and turning away. She reached out to my door, and as it swung open under her touch, we both walked in, her eyes sweeping around the room in a way I found reassuring.

“Not many places for someone to hide in here,” I said, and her face twisted into a grin.

“Very true, I’ll leave you to get yourself sorted. I’m sure you’re going to want to shower and then burn those clothes.” My heart leapt as a sudden thought came to my mind, and I threw my hand out to stop her leaving.

“What if the next guard is part of it somehow?” I blurted out.

Alouette turned to me, her light green eyes sparkling. “I’m your guard now, and while you are beautiful, I find no fun in taking what isn’t given freely. Plus, I’m taken.” She lifted her hand showing me a gold band circling her ring finger. I released a breath, feeling immediately safer knowing she was going to be outside.

“There’s barely anyone in this castle who can open this door anyway. You’re safe in here, we’re only outside to stop you escaping,” she said with a wink and laughed at my confusion as I turned to stare at the door.

“So, I’m not locked in? But I tried to open it when they put me in here?”

“Obviously, they weren’t going to let you run away the moment you got here. But no, you’re not locked in, although you wouldn’t exactly get far if you did try and run, considering there will always be someone outside. You’re not supposed to know that but us girls have got to stick together.” Alouette smiled at me, and I felt my mouth curve into a small smile right back.

“Do you know why I’m here?” I didn’t hold much hope for an answer, but it was worth a shot.

“Nope,” she said, popping the p. “That is above me I’m afraid. Not much is though, so that must mean you’re pretty important. Go get changed, I’ll help you burn those clothes later.” With that, she left, and I watched the door softly close behind her.

My mind spun as I stood in place; it was too much to process, too much to take in. There was a tiredness in my bones that I hadn’t felt since that first night here. I let my jacket drop to the floor, finding the hem of the new top and peeling it off. Air hit my exposed breasts, and I cringed. I ripped off the torn dress, kicking it away from me and continuing to undress until I stood naked with only Kaius’ pendant laying comfortingly in the space between my breasts. Staring at the heap of ruined fabric, I knew I would take up Alouette’s offer of burning it.

The shower was scalding as I stepped under the spray, enjoying the burn of the water against my skin. I let its heat wash away the oily caress of his hands, his words. I let it wash away the scared girl who had panicked, until the one left standing was the girl who had fought back.

The girl who had unleashed her magik, had attacked her attacker and liked it. Liked the feeling of her power crashing wildly through her veins.

I could see his body now, slumped against the wall, unmoving. I could see the radiating puddle of crimson across the floor.

I did that.

His face was whole again and close to mine as he pawed at me with hands that had no right. I sank to the floor, the tears that spilled down my face washing away in the spray of hot water. I could let them escape here in the safety of the shower. I would rebuild myself as many times as I needed to, but right now I would let myself fall.

My skin was raw from the heat of the water cascading down me when the tall woman found me curled on the floor of the shower.

It could have been minutes, it could have been hours. All sense of time had slipped away along with the water that circled down the drain, but when her gentle hands reached for me, I let her pull me up and wrap me in a soft towel.

Her magik had soothed my skin, chasing away the sting left behind by the water. Alouette joined her, and between the two of them, they dressed me and put me into bed. It could only have been midday.

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