The Captain and Her Princess

by Archz_Vein

Summary:

Captain Reni Vel has been in love with her best friend for years. She's taken to sleeping with anyone who asks her, just to have a moment of distraction.

Alina Von Dawn never knew.

Notes:

I'm also posting this on another site. I use the same username. This is not copyright infringement. I'm the author!!!

Chapter 1: Content Warnings and Information

Content Warnings:

As the author, I do not encourage and/or condone the following. This story is meant to inform the reader of very real things we face in our world.

 

- Swearing

- Sexual Content

- Violence

- Death

- Slut-shaming

- Mentions of Sexual Abuse/Harassment

- Depictions of Sexual Abuse

- Stockholm Syndrome

 

This will be updated throughout the publication of this story.

Chapter 2: Pronunciation Guide

World, Continents, etc:

Vastocina: Vast-oh-sin-ah

Neleta: N-el-eh-t-ah

Grent: Guh-rent

 

Races, Nationalities, etc:

Neletan: N-el-eh-tan

Grentinite: Guh-rent-ih-night

 

Characters: 

Reni: Re-knee

Alina: Ah-lynn-uh

Telus: Tell-us

Elna: El-nah 

Vycious: V-eye-see-us

Vera: V-air-uh

Lestrus: Less-trus

Sictus: Sick-t-us

Mesdtron: Mess-t-ron

Lett: Let

Rivent: R-eye-vent

Wayli: Way-lee

Nalia: Nah-lee-ah

Marska: M-are-sk-uh

Necros: Neck-rose

Hecnata: Heck-nah-tah

Lia’nah: Lee-ah-nah

Plantatos: Plant-a-toes

Worthwright: Worth-right

Zephandel: Zeph-an-dell

Xana: Zah-nah

Maeveirel: May-eve-ih-real

Endrus: En-d-rus

Trouvo: True-voh

Maris: M-are-us

Kezu: K-eh-zoo

Nevseco: N-eh-v-sick-oh

Dreniana: Duh-ren-ee-on-ah

Lylinia: Lie-leh-knee-uh

Su: Sue

Dyla Lyne: Day-luh Line

Junek: You-neck

Marqi: M-are-key

 

Gods, Goddess, Deities, etc:

Myvatr: Mih-vah-ter

 

Kingdoms, Dutchies, Cities, etc:

Herbin: Air-bin

Arivel: Ar-ih-vel

Untri: Un-tree

Ricadie: Rye-k-dee

Novara: Nove-are-uh

 

Landmarks, Oceans, Lakes, etc:

Ilathe Sea: Eye-lay-th

Mount. Le’nok: Leh-no-kh

Chapter 3: Art

Cover Art

Reni Vel

Nalia Des

Alina Von Dawn

Chapter 4: One

Captain Reni Vel watches the partygoers from the balconies above the Grand Ballroom. 

King Telus Von Dawn sits atop his throne with his wife—Queen Elna Von Dawn—to his left and the crown prince—Vycious Von Dawn—to his right. 

The third child of the five Von Dawn children—Alina Von Dawn—dances with one of a group of pompous princes trying to get in her skirt. Reni watches as one leans down, terribly close to kissing Alina’s neck. His hand travels down her back. 

Reni is there in no less than a few seconds, gripping his wrist and tearing him away from Alina. The prince lets out a half scream, half groan as Reni pulls him to the side of the ballroom, near the wall. Alina follows closely behind.

“Keep your hands respectful,” Reni hisses at the prince, letting go of his wrist. 

“Who are you to make orders of me?” The prince asks.

“Captain Reni Vel,” She says, puffing her chest out a little, showing off the perfectly aligned pins and medals clipped to her uniform over her heart. 

The prince’s eyes widen and he stumbles away, trying to get as fair from Reni as possible. Reni turns to Alina. “Are you okay, Lady Alina?”

“Reni,” Alina says, arms crossed over her chest, “I was fine. You didn’t need to do that.”

Reni lowers her voice, pulling Alina closer to the wall. “I’m sorry, Ali, but he was getting too handsy.”

Alina glowers at Reni, eyes scanning the pristine bun Reni’s hair is tied back in and the perfectly applied kohl under her eyes. “Reni, I’m telling you, it was fine.”

“Ali, these princes just want one thing from you and you can’t give it to them. They will chew you up and spit you out like you’re nothing.”

“Gods above, Re,” Alina sighs, taking a step away from Reni. “I can handle myself.”

“I know Ali, but these princes—”

“No, Re, no . We’re done here. I’m sure you have duties to attend to, Captain.”

“But I’m off-duty…” Reni trails off as she watches Alina walk off. 

Fuck . Reni thinks. 

“Hello Captain~” A sickly sweet voice says as a hand caresses Reni’s shoulder. 

“Lady Vera,” Reni says, smiling as she turns around to see her oldest friend.

Vera and Reni grew up in neighboring Dutchies to the north of the kingdom of Herbin. Reni, eldest child of Duke Lestrus Vel, is from Arivel, the more western of the two. Vera is from Untri, the eastern duchy. 

With Arivel and Untri located on opposite sides of a decently large lake, they spent much of their time together. The dutchies are only a half-hour’s horse ride apart so they often spent afternoons and evenings together after their schooling and before dinnertime. 

“Hey, Vel,” Vera says, sliding her hand from Reni’s shoulder over her neatly arranged pins and medals. “You have more of these.”

Reni smiles and nods. “Yes, I do. I’m glad you noticed.”

“Of course I noticed,” Vera says, stepping closer to Reni, her hand still braced on the pins and medals over Reni’s heart. 

Reni tears her gaze away from Vera’s watercolor eyes and looks over her dress. Midnight blue with glitter stitched into it. 

“You look beautiful, Ver,” she breathes. “You always look beautiful.”

“Your uniform is hot as always.”

“The gardens are always beautiful this time of year,” Reni whispers. 

Vera flashes a lazy smile. “Let’s go.”

Reni offers Vera her arm and leads her out of the Grand Ballroom and out to the gardens. They walk together for a few minutes, the setting sun dressing everything in a vibrant orange glow. They find a stone bench and sit down, gazing over the sunset.

Vera rests her hand on Reni’s thigh, squeezing a little. She slides her hand further up Reni’s leg. “I missed you, you know,” Vera murmurs, resting her head on Reni’s shoulder. 

“I missed you too, Ver,” Reni says, kissing the top of Vera’s head. “I’m glad you came.”

Vera looks up, taking a shallow breath as she gazes into Reni’s eyes. Reni leans in and kisses Vera, cupping one hand on Vera’s cheek. 

Vera wraps an arm around Reni’s neck pulling her closer, kissing her harder. They don’t break apart until they’re both breathing heavily, desperate for air. Reni rests her forehead against Vera’s, eyes shut. 

“Gods above, I missed you,” Reni murmurs.

“I missed you so much,” Vera murmurs, stroking Reni’s cheek.

Reni leans into Vera’s touch, nuzzling her hand. Vera shifts, standing and straddling Reni, taking a seat on her lap so her knees are pressed into the stone bench. Vera leans down, kissing Reni’s neck, hands sliding over Reni’s shoulders. Reni takes a deep breath, hugging around Vera’s back.

“Ver,” Reni says, tilting her head back to give Vera more space, “Someone might see us…”

Vera doesn’t respond, sliding her hands down Reni’s front, fingers deftly unbuttoning her uniform jacket. She pushes it off Reni’s shoulders, pausing for a moment to gaze at Reni, admiring the tight undershirt beneath.

“You look…” Vera begins, leaning down to kiss Reni’s neck again. 

Reni’s breath catches in her throat as Vera’s kisses reach the edge of her collar bone. Her fingers bunch around fistfuls of Vera’s dress and her head falls back again, eyes closed.

“Gods, Ver, if someone sees us…” Reni trails off, unable to finish the thought as Vera’s mouth finds a particularly sensitive spot on her neck.

Vera smirks against Reni’s neck, her hands roaming over Reni’s chest, feeling the steady and increasingly rapid beat of Reni’s heart. She lightly bites down and Reni lets out a strangled noise, somewhere between a gasp and a groan.

“You like that?” Vera whispers, her breath warm on Reni’s skin.

“Can we move to my office?” Reni asks through a hitch in her breath. 

Vera pulls away from Reni, taking a moment to admire the flushed and slightly disheveled look on Reni’s face. She smirks and climbs off Reni’s lap.

“Lead the way, Captain.”

Reni gets up, gently taking Vera’s wrist, leading her through the guards’ entrance to the castle and through the guards’ halls. They reach the small door into Reni’s office. Reni unlocks the door and bows her head for a moment, muttering a prayer under her breath to the god of thresholds. Reni steps in, closing and locking the door behind her. She walks over to the door leading into her chambers and unlocks that door, holding it open for Vera.

Vera steps into Reni’s chambers after bowing her head for a moment, muttering her own prayer. The room is neat and tidy, much like Renì’s office. There’s a large four-poster bed, a small sitting area in the corner, and a walk-in closet. The only thing hinting that a guard occupies this room is the armor stand in the corner and the weaponry on display.

Reni shuts the door, securing it with a loud click. Vera turns to look at Reni, who’s leaning her back against the door, arms crossed over her chest. Her eyes travel over Reni’s figure, taking in her flushed cheeks, the slightly crooked bun in her hair, the smudged kohl under her eyes, and her uniform shirt half unbuttoned. Vera’s never found the guard’s uniform more attractive.

“Gods, I missed you,” Vera murmurs, pulling Reni over to her bed and sitting her down.

“I missed you too, so much,” Reni whispers. 

She reaches for Vera, pulling her onto the bed with her. She lies back against the pillows, pulling Vera on top of her. Vera straddles Reni, pinning her wrists to the pillows above her head. 

“Not fair, Ver,” Reni breathes.

Vera grins, leaning in to bite Reni’s earlobe. “Who said anything about playing fair?”

Her free hand runs over Reni’s undershirt, lightly tracing the outline of her chest binder. Reni’s eyes flutter shut, a small gasp escaping her lips.

“Sensitive, are we?” Vera teases, her hand ghosting over Reni’s chest binder again.

“Shut up,” Reni mutters, her cheeks turning redder. 

Vera grins against Reni’s neck, running her tongue over a sensitive spot. Reni lets out another soft gasp, her hips instinctively shifting under Vera.

“See? Sensitive.”

“I’m not sensitive,” Reni says, her back arching just the slightest bit.

“Oh really?” Vera teases, her hand slipping up under Reni’s undershirt, her nails lightly raking over her bare skin. “Then why are you responding to me like this?”

Reni doesn’t respond, biting her lip in an attempt to silence the small noises that keep trying to spill out.

Vera leans in close to Reni’s ear, her voice low and seductive. “You know, I can make you beg for me without even touching you.”

Reni’s face heats up even further. “I will not beg, Ver.”

Vera chuckles and lowers her mouth to Reni’s neck, kissing and nipping at the sensitive skin. Reni takes a shaky breath, her grip on Vera’s waist tightening as she tries to maintain composure.

“You sure about that?” Vera teases.

Reni’s response is a soft whimper and her hips shifting under Vera again. It takes all of her self control to not arch her back or let out a more undignified noise.

Vera smirks against Reni’s neck, enjoying the way the normally stoic Captain is already coming apart beneath her, just like always. She presses her body flush against Reni’s, feeling the way Reni’s chest is heaving with each ragged breath.

“See, Re, you’re crumbling under me,” Vera says, her voice still low and sultry. “You can’t even handle me just touching you. You’re already squirming. So desperate from just a few simple touches.”

Reni’s resolve is crumbling. She hates how much power Vera has over her. Hates how just a few well-placed touches are enough to drive her crazy. But she also yearns for it, craves Vera’s touch like a drug. She tries to maintain a shred of her composure, to not give in completely. With every passing moment, that gets harder and harder.

“Ver, gods above, I…” Reni trails off, biting her lip—hard—to stop a moan from escaping.

Vera’s smile turns into a smirk, knowing she’s winning this battle. Her hand continues to wander over Reni’s bare skin, drawing little circles and tracing every muscle. Her lips travel down Reni’s neck, nipping and sucking as they go. Reni’s head falls back, exposing even more of her neck to Vera. Reni’s grip on Vera’s waist tightens even more, her hips shifting with every teasing touch from Vera.

“Beg me,” Vera whispers against Reni’s neck. “Beg me and I’ll give you what you want.”

Reni takes a shaky breath, her eyes shutting tightly. She wants to beg, oh gods above she wants to beg, but she desperately wants to preserve at least a bit of her dignity.

“Come on, Re,” Vera purrs, nipping at Reni’s earlobe again. “I know you want to. Just say the words, love.”

Reni’s resolve is breaking. She’s unable to keep the moans and whimpers in anymore. Her body betrays her, arching up into Vera.

“Beg,” Vera repeats, her hand moving farther up Reni’s chest. “Beg for me, Re.”

Reni’s breath hitches, a broken moan escaping her lips. “Please, Vera, please... gods above, I’m begging you.”

Vera’s smirk turns into a full-blown grin as Reni finally breaks. She’s won. “That’s it, Re. Just let go. I’ve got you.”

Vera’s hand continues to journey over Reni’s chest, tracing over the top of the chest binder. Her other hand fingers the hem of Reni’s trousers. Reni’s back arches involuntarily, her grip on Vera’s waist is almost painful.

“Oh gods, Ver... Please, please …” Reni’s words are becoming more and more incoherent as she succumbs to Vera’s touch.

Vera’s hand slides under the hem of Reni’s trousers, lightly teasing the sensitive skin of her hip. “Gods above, Re, you’re so desperate. You really weren’t kidding when you said you missed me, were you?”

“Ver... please... please touch me.”

Vera’s smirk softens into a smile, her heart thudding in her chest at Reni’s words.

“How can I say no when you ask so nicely, my love?”

Her hand slides further down Reni’s trousers, slipping under the waistband of her undergarments. Reni’s back arches again and she shudders.

Reni grips the sheets and blankets of her bed, her eyes tightly closed, her mouth slightly open as she moans and pants. 

Vera’s smile widens as she continues teasing Reni. She loves how responsive she is; how she’s already coming apart beneath her.

“You’re so beautiful like this,” Vera murmurs, watching the way Reni squirms and gasps under her touch. “Writhing, whimpering, begging for me to touch you.”

Reni whimpers, pushing her hips against Vera’s hand. Every one of her nerves feels like it’s on fire. Her body shakes, her muscles taught.

“Please, Ver... I need you,” Reni whispers, her hands clenching the sheets tighter.

The raw need in Reni’s voice makes Vera’s head spin. She leans down, pressing her body against Reni’s, her hand continuing to move under Reni’s trousers.

“I’ve got you,” Vera murmurs, her lips against Reni’s neck. 

She nips at the skin, drawing another moan from Reni.

Reni tilts her head, giving Vera more space to work with. She arches her back desperately, seeking more friction. She can barely form coherent thoughts, the only thing on her mind is the need for more of Vera’s touch.

“Gods, Ver... I can’t hold on much longer... I... please…” Reni moans.

Vera hums against Reni’s neck. She sucks on Reni’s skin and leaves a dark mark, relishing in the way Reni squirms.

“Just let go, Re,” Vera murmurs, her teeth grazing against Reni’s pulse point. “I want you to come apart for me.”

Reni moans, her breath hitching as her body arches up into Vera one last time. She releases her grip on her blankets and sheets, sinking into her bed. Her eyes are still pressed closed as she heaves out breaths. 

Vera smiles, pleased with her work. She watches as Reni comes undone under her touch, the tension in her body melting away. She gently pulls her hand out of Reni’s trousers, placing it on her hip instead.

“You’re beautiful,” Vera murmurs. “Especially when you’re like this.”

Vera gently strokes the side of Reni’s head as she lays down next to her. 

Reni’s breath is still ragged, her body still buzzing with aftershocks. She slowly opens her eyes, looking over at Vera, her flushed cheeks, relaxed expression, her soft gaze.

She reaches out, her hand lightly tracing Vera’s cheek. “Gods... I missed you so much,” Reni whispers.

Vera feels a lump form in her throat at Reni’s words. She turns her head, pressing a gentle kiss to Reni’s palm.

“I missed you too,” Vera whispers in return.

She shifts closer, tugging the covers over them both. Vera cuddles into Reni, resting her head on her chest.

Reni wraps her arms around Vera, holding her close. She buries her face in Vera’s hair, taking in the familiar scent. She rubs slow, soothing circles on Vera’s back, her body finally starting to relax.

“Stay with me tonight?” Reni asks.

“Of course.”

Notes:

Author's Note: I hope to update semi-regularly. I'm finishing up my senior year of high school so I'm fairly busy. I'm hoping to have a long form sort-of slow burn fantasy romance but this isn't my usual genre in writing.
Sincerely,
Archz
(2509 Words)

Chapter 5: Two

Vera is gone when Reni wakes up and she can’t decide if that’s better or worse than if she’d woken up next to Vera.

Reni slugs out of bed, pulling on fresh trousers and a fresh undershirt. She carefully puts her leather day-to-day armor on. She meticulously pulls her hair into a smooth bun and smudges kohl under her eyes. 

Reni exits her room, into her office, where her second in command—Sictus—sits in the guest chair in her room.

“Morning Captain,” Sictus says, nodding at Reni as he takes a sip of coffee from his mug. 

“Sictus,” Reni says, sitting in her chair and resting her hands around the steaming cup of coffee Sictus brought for her, “what are the updates from the night?”

“A few city folk tried to break into the castle. Some nobles got too drunk and had to be escorted to their rooms. One of the guards in the ballroom got in an altercation with Duke Mestron.”

“Duke Mestron?” Reni questions, raising an eyebrow as she takes a sip of coffee, “Why did he get into an altercation with a guard?”

“The Duke was being his usual self,” Sictus says, grimacing, “he was drinking too much, so one of the guards told him to get back to his room and rest. The Duke tried to throw a punch at the guard. The guards took care of the situation, but it was stupid.”

Reni sighs heavily and pinches the bridge of her nose. “Of course he did that,” She mutters and sips her coffee. “Anything else I should know?”

“Nothing out of the usual ma’am,” Sictus says, “I took inventory, the armory looks well-stocked, and the guards are all at their usual stations.”

He pauses and takes a drink of his coffee, “Oh, and Princess Alina was looking for you this morning.”

Oh shit. She’s still pissed about the ball last night. Reni thinks. I screwed up big time. I shouldn’t have gotten involved. I—stop it. Don’t do that to yourself, Reni.

"Did she say why?" Reni asks into her cup of coffee.

Sictus shakes his head, “She didn’t, just that she wanted to talk to you, and it was important.”

Reni sighs, groans, and gets up. “Please try and make a dent in this mountain of paperwork,” she says, heading for the door.

“I’ll try my best,” Sictus says, cracking his knuckles and neck as Reni leaves. 

Eventually, she makes her way to the princess’s room, standing in front of the door, and knocks. Her thoughts run wild. 

Alina opens the door a moment later, eyeing Reni up and down and letting out a heavy sigh. “You,” she says, motioning for Reni to come inside her room before closing and locking the door behind her. 

Alina crosses her arms, a sour expression on her face. “Sit down,” Alina orders, keeping her arms crossed.

Reni obeys Alina and sits down in the armchair in the corner of the room, her nerves starting to get the better of her. She tries to keep her cool, but Alina’s stern expression is making her feel uneasy. She swallows the lump in her throat and waits for Alina to speak.

“So?” Alina begins, standing in front of Reni, arms still crossed. “You have something to say for yourself?”

Reni fidgets uncomfortably, not knowing what she should expect to happen next. “I—I’m sorry,” Reni says, fiddling with her thumbs, “I shouldn’t have gotten involved with you and that prince last night.”

Alina snorts and rolls her eyes, “Yeah,” she says, “you shouldn’t have. How many times have I told you that I can handle my own problems?”

“I know, I know, but—” Reni starts, only for Alina to cut her off with a sharp look.

“But what, Reni?” Alina snaps, taking a step closer to Reni, “But you wanted to play knight in shining armor and save the poor, defenseless princess?”

“What? No! That’s not what I meant at all!” Reni says, eyes wide as she looks up at Alina.

“Then what did you mean?” Alina snaps, “You always butt into things that you have no business butting into. You always act like I can’t handle things myself. Do you seriously think I’m that weak?”

“No! I’ve never ever thought that about you!”

“Then why? Why, Reni, do you treat me like I’m some damsel in distress?”

Reni flinches at Alina’s tone. “I don’t—”

“Don’t bullshit me!” 

Reni sucks in a sharp breath. “I just want to protect you, Ali.”

“No! You don’t get to ‘Ali’ me right now! And you don’t get to use that excuse! I don’t need someone to protect me. I definitely don’t need you protecting me,” Alina heaves out breaths, her shoulders scrunched together as she stares down at Reni. 

Reni’s expression hardens. Her anger breaks through the carefully emotionless expression that’s been drilled into her over the past five years.

Alina’s eyes widen. “I didn’t—I didn’t mean it like—like that,” she mumbles, looking away from Reni.

Reni stands, shoving past Alina. “No, you did. You very clearly meant it like that,” Reni pauses near the door, almost feeling bad for shoving Alina like that. 

Before Reni has the chance to beg for forgiveness, she leaves and slams the door behind her. 

The guards on either side of Alina’s door jump, glancing over with bewildered expressions.

“Captain what—” The guard to the left of the door, Lett, starts, glancing at the other guard, Rivent.

Reni glares at Lett, daring him to say something else. Lett’s eyes widen and he looks back at the hall leading out of the royal wing. 

Satisfied with Lett’s silence, Reni thunders out of the royal wing, past the dining rooms, the ballroom and grand ballroom, and the library. She shoves open the heavy wooden door out into the training fields, the cast iron door handle gets stuck in the stone brick for a moment before wiggling itself out and the door closes again. 

The recruits scatter and flee, avoiding Reni in wide berths as she draws her sword and attacks the rows of wooden training dummies. 

There’s no thought behind her attacks, no reasoning, no pattern or form. She just attacks. 

Wood chippings fly around Reni. She’s vaguely aware of some of them slicing up her forearms and cheeks and sticking into her leather armor. 

She doesn’t need me protecting her? Reni shouts in her mind. What does she think my job is? I was her personal guard up until a year ago! What’s changed since I became captain? What the fuck changed?

“Um… uh… Captain?” A shaky voice says.

Reni whips around, pointing the tip of her sword at the source of the voice. “ What ?”

The guard flinches, taking a step back. “Ma’am, you need to go to the infirmary. Your arms are bleeding very heavily.”

Reni looks down, lowering her sword and sheathing it. Fuck, Wayli is right. She needs to go to the infirmary. Now. 

Wayli tries to help her but Reni shoves him off, walking to the infirmary herself.

As Reni approaches the infirmary, the smell of antiseptic and medicinal plants fills the air. The room is filled with rows of beds, each occupied by injured guards and members of the castle staff. Some of them are being treated by the nurse—a stern yet tender woman named Marska.

“What happened?” Marska says as she spots Reni, her eyes widening at the sight of blood stained leather.

Reni grimaces, the pain in her arms starting to become unbearable. “Just a little mishap with a training dummy,” she mutters through gritted teeth.

Marska raises an eyebrow, not believing her for a second. “A ‘little mishap’ huh? Let me see those arms.”

Reni reluctantly approaches Marska, holding up her arms. They’re covered in splinters and littered with gashes that are still bleeding heavily.

Tsk, Tsk. Marska shakes her head as she observes the damage. “You don’t just get gashes like this from accidentally hitting a training dummy, Captain,” she says sternly, motioning for Reni to take a seat on a stool so she can start cleaning the wounds.

Reni hisses as Marska starts cleaning the first wound with a cloth doused in a strong disinfectant. The pain is sharp and intense, but Reni doesn’t make a sound.

Reni winces as Marska continues her work, cleaning each cut on Reni’s arms. The silence in the room is absolute, save for Marska’s occasional tsk or grumble as she treats Reni’s wounds.

After what feels like hours but is more likely about thirty minutes, Marska finishes wrapping Reni’s arms in fresh linen bandages. 

“Don’t get yourself beaten up so badly next time,” she says, her tone still stern but with a touch of care.

“Yes Ma’am,” Reni grumbles, standing up and heading toward her office.

Notes:

Author's Note: This chapter is on the shorter end, sorry for that.
Sincerely,
Archz
(1461 Words)

Chapter 6: Three

The paperwork on Reni’s desk is down to a few reports, approvals for leave, and other menial tasks. Reni doesn’t touch them, even though she normally would. 

The setting sun shines through the window into her office, backlighting her as she stares at the wood surface of her desk. 

Knock. Knock. Knockity-Knock.  

A small smile spreads across Reni’s face. That pattern can only mean one person. “Come in, Lady Nalia,” Reni says.

The door opens and swiftly closes behind Nalia, wearing her midnight blue with gold accent mage’s robes. Her eyes widen when she sees both of Reni’s arms wrapped in bandages.
Naila strides over to Reni’s desk, walking around it so she stands next to Reni. She grabs Reni’s arms, pulling her to her feet. 

“What happened to you?” Nalia asks, the sharp accent Reni has grown to appreciate backing her voice. 

Nalia’s icy blue gaze rakes over Reni’s bandaged arms. She didn’t look particularly impressed by them. Her eyes move to Reni’s face and she grimaces.

Her slender fingers softly trace over Reni’s cut up cheeks.

“What happened?” She repeats, her voice a mixture of annoyance and concern.

Reni winces as Nalia’s fingers gingerly trace her cheeks. “It’s nothing. Just some minor injuries from training,” She shrugs.

Nalia raises an eyebrow, not convinced. She takes a step closer, her gaze locked on Reni’s face. “Training my ass. You never get injured from training.”

Reni sighs. Nalia always sees right through her. She isn’t sure if it’s Nalia’s magic or if she’s just that good at reading Reni.

“Fine. I was… frustrated, okay?” Reni grumbles.

“Frustrated enough to nearly cut your arms to ribbons?” Nalia asks, her tone sharp.

Reni looks away, avoiding Nalia’s gaze. “It’s… it’s complicated.”

Nalia’s fingers find the side of Reni’s chin and she forces Reni to meet her gaze. “Explain. Now.”

Reni tries to look away, not wanting to say anything about the Alina situation. Nalia doesn’t need another reason to dislike Alina. 

Reni knows it’s pointless to try to resist. Nalia can use her magic to make Reni talk. But she’s too stubborn to just give in right away. 

Nalia smirks, noticing Reni’s hesitance. “You know I could just use my magic to force you to talk, don’t you?”

Reni lets out a huff, knowing damn well that it’s the truth. Nalia’s magic is strong and could easily force Reni to say anything she wanted her to say. She doesn’t know how Nalia can read her so easily. It’s infuriating.

“I’m aware.”

Nalia’s smirk grows. “Then why don’t you just tell me, Reni?”

Reni glares at Nalia. “Because you don’t need another reason to dislike Alina.”

Nalia rolls her eyes. “Please, we’ve had this argument how many times now?”

Reni lets out a frustrated sigh, “Yes, but—”

Nalia cuts her off, “Let me guess, you had an argument with the princess?”

Reni’s expression is enough of a response.

Nalia pinches the bridge of her nose and closes her eyes for a moment. “Of course you did.”

She opens her eyes and stares at Reni, her expression hardening. “What did she say this time? And why did you let it get to you this time?”

Reni looks away, trying to avoid eye contact. She doesn’t want to say anymore than she already has and looking into Nalia’s eyes has a way of making Reni talk. 

Nalia sees what she’s doing and grabs a handful of Reni’s hair, forcing her to look at her. “Don’t you even try that,” Nalia snaps, “Answer my question.”

Reni squirms a bit at the firm grip on her hair, wincing slightly, “Fine! She…” Reni hesitates for a moment before continuing, “She said that I’m treating her like a damsel in distress and that she didn’t need me to protect her. That I apparently think she’s weak.”

“Oh, for the love of—” Nalia grumbles, rolling her eyes. She lets go of Reni’s hair and steps back. “Do you really have to let her get to you every single time that princess opens her mouth? It’s like she has you wrapped around that pale little finger of hers and you have no willpower to stop it.”

Reni bristles at Nalia’s words. “It’s not like that!” She protests. “It’s not that simple, Nalia. It’s… complicated.”

Nalia sighs. “Reni, you’ve had a crush on the princess ever since you both hit puberty. You and I both know that this is anything but complicated.”

After a moment, Nalia continues, “If you would just… if you would just let me take away your feelings for her, it would all be better.”

Reni stiffens, eyes widening. She’s heard this idea from Nalia many, many times. She still doesn’t like it. 

“No. I’m not going to let you do that, Nalia. You know I don’t want you to use your magic on my emotions.”

Nalia rolls her eyes. “Oh, please. You act like I’d be taking away all of your emotions. I’m offering to take away your feelings for the princess. You’d still be you, just without the obsession you have with her. I mean, you fuck around, you let yourself be used by countless people, just to forget about those feelings when I could just take them away!” Nalia says, cupping Reni’s cheeks.

Reni’s cheeks warm at the touch. “That’s… that’s not the same thing.” Her voice is quiet, barely a whisper.

Nalia moves closer, standing right in front of Reni. “It is the same thing. You sleep with countless people, just to try and forget. And it doesn’t work, does it? It only drives you deeper into your obsession with the princess. Trust me, I know you better than anyone. You’re stubborn as all hell but I know what’s best for you.”

Reni wants to say something. To protest. To argue. But damn if Nalia isn’t correct. She hates how well Nalia can read her. She hates how well Nalia can understand her. She hates how much she wants to give in.

“No,” Reni says again, using her captain’s voice. “I won’t take the easy way out. I really appreciate you offering because I know you do it out of care for me, but the answer is no.”

Nalia lets out a frustrated sigh. “You’re so gods damn stubborn,” she says, her tone sharp, “Why will you never let me help you? You’re hurting and you refuse to let me fix it.”

“I know you love to fix things, but this? This you can’t do for me,” Reni murmurs, wrapping her arms around Nalia’s back. 

Nalia relaxes into Reni’s embrace after a moment. It’s hard to hold onto her anger when Reni’s wrapped around her. She lets out a sigh, burying her face in Reni’s shirt.

“Do you even ever plan on telling her how you feel?” She asks quietly, her voice muffled by the cotton.

“You know I can’t.”

“Why? Why can’t you just say how you feel?” Nalia asks, pulling back from Reni enough to look up at her. “There’s so much time you waste on her when you could be, I don’t know, looking for someone who actually cares about you. Someone who’s actually attainable.”

There’s a flash of hurt that passes over Reni’s expression. Of course Nalia would use that against her. “It’s not that simple,” she repeats, her tone a little sharp. “She’s the princess, Nalia. Even if she didn’t have every suitor’s attention glued to her at all times, I’m a guard. She’s royal and, despite my lineage, to the public and noble eye, I’m not a royal. And I’m... I’m not enough for her.”

Nalia bites her tongue to hold back a retort. She wants to yell that Reni is enough. That she’s better than the snobbish princess anyway. But she doesn’t. Instead, she says, “And you think sleeping with whoever offers is the best answer?”

Reni shrugs, trying to push down the emotions that Nalia’s words bring up. “It’s a distraction. It’s a chance to forget about her. That’s better than being miserable all the time.”

Nalia rolls her eyes. “It’s a poor and temporary distraction,” she says, her voice sharp, “It doesn’t help you in the long run. Don’t you think you deserve better than that?”

Reni can’t meet Nalia’s gaze anymore. She knows Nalia’s right. She knows that the meaningless hookups don’t help, but she won’t admit it. It’s easier this way. Easier to keep up the facade of being fine.

Nalia’s hand finds Reni’s jaw again and forcibly tilts her face back up to meet her gaze. “Look at me,” she says, her voice firm, “You know I’m right. You know these meaningless hookups don’t help. You know you deserve better than that.”

Reni can feel the anger and frustration rising inside her again. “What do you want me to say?” She snaps, yanking her face from Nalia’s grasp and taking a step back. “That I know you’re right? That I know I deserve better? What do you want me to say, Nalia? That I know I’m a hopeless fool with a crush on a princess who will never even look my way?”

Nalia closes the distance between them again, grabbing Reni’s chin and forcing the younger girl to meet her gaze once more. Her expression is serious, a mixture of frustration and concern.

“What I want you to say is that you’ll stop having these meaningless hookups and that you’ll stop being so miserable and moping about over the princess who doesn’t see you as anything but a guard!” She says firmly, “I want you to let me help you move on.”

“And why do you even care about me so much?” Reni snaps, yanking herself from Nalia’s grasp again, “All you’ve been doing lately is pushing me to get over the princess. You keep insisting on taking away my feelings every time we have this conversation—”

“Because I don’t like seeing you like this!” Nalia exclaims, her expression hardening. “Seeing you throw yourself into bed with whoever offers just so you can forget, even if it’s for a few fleeting hours. I don’t like seeing you break your own heart again and again over a woman who will never notice you!”

“No,” Reni says again, her voice almost a snarl, “You just want to use me as a test subject for your magic! You don’t care about me , about my feelings, you just care about getting to practice using your magic on my emotions.”

Nalia bristles at the accusation, her eyes narrowing in annoyance. “That’s bullshit and you know it. Why can you never just accept that I care about you, Reni? Why do you have to accuse me of horrible things to push me away every gods damn time?”

Reni lets out a bitter laugh, “Because I know you want to use your magic on me. You can deny it all you want, but I know what you’re like. You always want to fix people, to control them, to change them into whatever you think is best. You’re just waiting for me to give in so you can play with my feelings like they’re one of your damn spells.”

Nalia’s jaw tightens. “You always think the absolute worst of me,” she mutters, shaking her head, “You really think I would do that to you? That I would just use you as some kind of experiment? I care about you, Reni. More than I’ve ever cared about anyone. Why can’t you just accept that and let me help you?”

Reni laughs again, the sound harsh and bitter. “Oh, right, as if you’re such a saint,” she retorts, “You think I didn’t notice the way you use your magic on anyone who even looks at you the wrong way? You think I didn’t notice how smug you get when they’re under your spell? How you love that power trip you get? You’re not as innocent as you pretend to be, Nalia.”

Nalia’s eyes narrow in response to the accusations. She takes a step closer to Reni, her expression fluctuating between annoyance and anger. 

“You think you know me so well, don’t you? You think you have me all figured out? I use my magic as a defense , Reni. Not as a power trip. How dare you accuse me of using it for selfish reasons.”

“A defense from what ?”

Nalia hesitates for a moment. The expression on her face makes Reni’s chest hurt. “From the people who want to hurt me,” Nalia finally answers, her voice a little quieter.

Reni’s anger dissipates. She pulls Nalia against her, tightly wrapping her arms around Nalia’s back. “I’m sorry,” she whispers into Nalia’s hair. 

Nalia tenses up a bit, caught off guard by the sudden hug. But then she relaxes into Reni’s arms, burying her face into Reni’s chest. Her anger also fades into relief and vulnerability. 

She wraps her own arms around Reni’s back, holding her just as tightly. “You don’t get it,” Nalia murmurs.

“Don’t get what?”

Nalia stays silent for a moment, burying her face into Reni’s shirt a little more. Finally, she speaks, her voice barely above a whisper, “You don’t get what it’s like being me. Having people either want to use me for my magic or try to kill me because they’re afraid of it. It’s… it’s isolating. Scary. I can’t trust anyone. Except for you.”

“And even then,” Reni says into Nalia’s hair, “I still judge you and make assumptions too quickly.”

Nalia lets out a small huff of laughter, the sound muffled by Reni’s shirt. “You always were a little too fast to judge,” she teases lightly, “But I understand. You’re just...protective. And stubborn. And a little bit of an idiot, but I still like you.”

Reni snorts. “I’m glad you still like me.”

Nalia pulls back a little, just enough to look up at Reni’s face. Her expression is serious again, the vulnerability still there in her eyes. “You mean more to me than you think you do,” she says quietly, her voice sincere, “I’d do anything for you, Reni. Anything .”

Reni’s heart pounds a little faster at Nalia’s words. She swallows hard, fighting back the emotions that always seem to pop up whenever Nalia gets this vulnerable. 

“Anything?” Reni asks softly, her voice a little hoarse.

Nalia reaches up, gently cupping Reni’s cheeks in her hands. Her gaze is intense, her touch firm. “Anything,” she repeats, her voice low and serious, “I’d move mountains for you, Reni. Just to make you happy, to make you not hurt anymore.”

Reni’s heart feels like it’s about to burst right out of her chest. She can feel the sincerity in Nalia’s words in her touch. It’s overwhelming, all the emotions swirling inside her, and she doesn’t know what to say. The only thing she can do is wrap her arms around Nalia’s waist and hold her close.

Notes:

Author's Note: Another long one! Thanks for reading so far! Hope you love it as much as I do!
Sincerely,
Archz
(2478 Words)

Chapter 7: Four

Nalia sits on the edge of Reni’s desk—swinging her legs back and forth—as Reni finishes her paperwork. 

Reni feels the telltale tingle of Nalia’s magic trace her spine. It makes her shiver. The ink of her pen blots on the paper. 

“Shit,” Reni mumbles under her breath, flashing a half hearted glare at Nalia. 

Nalia snorts, gently combing her fingers through Reni’s hair. “I like it when you have your hair down,” she murmurs. “You look less like a knight and more like yourself. What happened to that little princess from eight years ago? Hmm? I can’t believe you were only ten when we met.”

Reni glances up at Nalia, tossing aside the handkerchief she used to soak up the spilled ink. “Back when you were an apprentice? Gods above, that was so long ago.”

Nalia chuckles softly, running her fingertips over Reni’s jawline. “It was, wasn’t it? And now look at us. You’re Herbin’s Captain of the Royal Guard, and I’m Herbin’s Archmage. Two prodigies. The youngest Captain and the youngest Archmage in Herbin’s history.” She leans forward, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of longing and mischief as she lowers her voice to a seductive whisper. “But some things don’t change. You still have that adorable little shiver when I use my magic near you.”

Reni rolls her eyes. “Oh hush ,” she mutters, feigning annoyance. “It’s not like I can help it. Your magic is just... intense . It always has been.”

Nalia smirks, her fingers continuing to comb through Reni’s hair, sending electric tingles across her back. “You know you like it,” she teases, leaning down to whisper in Reni’s ear. “The way it dances across your skin. The little zap when it first touches you. The way it slides down your spine. How it makes your toes curl .”

Reni shivers as Nalia’s breath ghosts her earlobe. “Yeah, yeah, I get it,” Reni mumbles, trying to keep her voice steady. “You’re the magical prodigy, and I’m just the knight with a silly little magical sensitivity.”

Nalia’s thumb brushes over Reni’s jawline, her touch gentle yet possessive. 

“Silly little sensitivity?” Naila repeats with amused disbelief. “You say that as if it’s some kind of weakness. You know it’s a rarity to have that kind of connection to magic, even if you yourself don’t have any?”

Reni sighs, leaning into Nalia’s touch, her annoyance and anger from the morning’s argument with Alina quickly forgotten. “I know, I know,” Reni grumbles. “You remind me of it every chance you get.”

Nalia chuckles again, her fingers tracing the lines of Reni’s neck and shoulders gently. But then her touch becomes more firm, as she begins to massage the tight muscles of Reni’s shoulders and upper back. Reni lets out a small, satisfied groan as Nalia’s fingers find a particularly sore spot.

“You’re tense,” Nalia comments, her voice low and soothing. “This isn’t because of that argument with the princess, is it?”

Reni closes her eyes, leaning her head back against Nalia’s shoulder. “No. No it’s not,” she lies. 

Nalia hums softly, as she continues to massage Reni’s shoulders, moving her fingers in slow circles. “You know I can tell when you’re lying, right?” she says softly, her lips close to Reni’s earlobe.

Nalia chuckles softly, her fingers continuing their steady, rhythmic massage. 

“And you still do it anyway.”

Reni huffs, but she can’t deny it. She’s always had a bad habit of trying to hide her feelings, even from Nalia. 

“Nothing really has changed in the couple of hours since you were last here,” Reni admits after a while.

Nalia hums in acknowledgment, her touch remaining steady as she continues to work her fingers across Reni’s shoulders. “And let me guess, you haven’t taken a break since then?”

“I need to finish this paperwork by the end of the week.”

Nalia clicks her tongue in disapproval. “You work too hard, you know that?” she chides, the hint of a scolding in her voice. “You’re going to work yourself into the ground if you keep this up.”

“I guess I could save it for tomorrow…” Reni says after a long pause.

Nalia grins, her fingers tracing a lazy path down Reni’s arm. “Now, that’s more like it,” she murmurs approvingly. “You’re finally being reasonable.”

Reni absentmindedly nods, sighing as she leans back a little. “I should probably get some sleep... will you stay the night?”

Nalia chuckles, clearly amused by Reni’s question. “Of course. I had a feeling you’d ask.” She moves to stand, stretching out her limbs just to be dramatic. “You really think I’d pass up a chance to hold you while you sleep?”

Reni stands, pulling at the chest binder under her shirt as she walks into her chambers, tossing the binder on the floor, kicking off her boots, and falling into her bed.

Nalia follows, closing the door behind her. She crawls into bed, molding herself to Reni’s back, her arms wrapping around Reni’s waist. She nuzzles her face into Reni’s neck, letting out a content sigh.

Reni relaxes in Nalia’s arms, feeling the tension slowly draining from her body. She closes her eyes, savoring the feeling of Nalia’s body pressed against hers. 

“You always feel so nice and cool,” Reni murmurs, her voice already tinged with sleepiness.

A quiet chuckle rumbles in the back of Nalia’s throat, sending pleasant vibrations down Reni’s spine. “And you always feel so warm,” she whispers, nuzzling her face into Reni’s hair. “It’s like having my own personal sun right here in bed with me.”

Reni snorts softly, half-dozing. “Your own personal sun? You’re so dramatic.”

Despite her teasing remark, a sleepy smile tugs at the corners of Reni’s lips.

“That’s me, always dramatic.” Nalia presses a light kiss to the back of Reni’s neck. “But you love it, don’t you?”

Reni grunts, too tired to form words.

Nalia chuckles softly, her tone dripping with affection. “You’re so cute when you’re tired. It’s like you lose that tough exterior and become all soft and cuddly.”

“Not soft,” Reni mumbles.

Nalia’s fingers continue to comb through Reni’s hair, a soothing gesture. “Oh, darling, you may deny it, but you’re secretly a sweetheart. Underneath all that armor and those muscles, there’s a gooey center. A big softie.”

Reni grunts again, trying to pry her heavy eyelids open. 

Nalia leans down, her lips brushing against Reni’s forehead. “Just go ahead and close your eyes, my little knight. I’ll watch over you. You need to rest.”

Notes:

Author's Note: Sorry this chapter is so short. I was struggling a lot with how I should write it. I don’t want the story to move too fast so I had to keep redoing the chapter until we landed here.
Sincerely,
Archz
(1079 Words)

Chapter 8: Five

Reni sits with her hands folded together at the war table in King Telus’ personal library. Nalia sits in the chair next to her. King Telus sits across from Reni and Nalia, Queen Elna on his left and Crown Prince Vycious on his right. The three generals; Necros: the north star, Hecnata: the east gale, and Lia’nah: the southern tide.

“Captain Plantatos moves into Ricade from the Ilathe sea,” General Lia’nah says as she moves a golden pirate ship to the port city Ricade. “My armies are prepared for a fight.”

“Have we tried reasoning with her?” Nalia asks, frowning as she glances between the generals and Reni.

General Necros scoffs, rolling his eyes. “There is no use trying to negotiate with someone as low as a pirate. It’s just a waste of resources.”

Reni almost reaches out to place a hand on one of Nalia’s but restrains herself. She feels the sparks of Nalia’s magic, induced by her anger, fly around the room. Nalia takes a breath and calms herself. 

“I believe the Archmage might have a point,” Prince Vycious says, frowning at General Necros. “It may be beneficial for us to try to negotiate.”

General Necros shakes his head but doesn’t dare speak against Vycious. General Lia’nah sighs and pinches her brow for a moment. She shares a look with the two other generals.

Vycious tilts his chin up, looking down at the three generals. “I am more than willing to do the negotiations myself.”

“Absolutely not,” Queen Elna immediately says, slamming her hand on the table, jostling the pieces on the war board.

“ Mother ,” Vycious hisses, “I am perfectly capable of—”

“It is not about your capabilities, Vycious,” Queen Elna says, cutting Vycious off. “It is about your safety. I will not allow you to risk your life for some minuscule chance of a peaceful resolution to this feud.”

King Telus rests a hand on Queen Elna’s. “Now, my dear, let us take a breath,” he guides Queen Elna through a few deep breaths. “Son, what do you propose you would do?”

Vycious looks Reni in the eye for a moment. “I would take a team of Herbin’s greatest knights, Captain Vel included, and attempt a peaceful negotiation with Captain Plantatos.”

Nalia’s eyes widen. “Prince Vycious, you are aware Captain Plantatos and her pirates have access to a variety of magic, so wouldn’t I and a few of my mages be of use to you on this mission.”

Vycious holds up his hand. “I wouldn’t wish to send the wrong message. Bringing mages may send the message that we’re expecting a fight. I would not want that to be the impression we make.”

King Telus gazes at the war board for a long moment, his expression doesn’t betray anything he feels as he thinks. Queen Elna squeezes his hand. 

“ Please , my love,” Queen Elna says softly, “do not send our eldest to his death.”

“Captain,” King Telus says gruffly, looking up at Reni, “who would you bring with you to protect my son?”

Reni nods, staring at her hands for a moment as she takes a breath. She looks back up at King Telus, trying not to look at Queen Elna’s broken expression. 

“My King, I would have my second stay behind in my absence to manage the guards of the castle,” Reni takes another breath, sharing a look with Vycious. “I would bring Prince Vycious’ four personal guards along with knights Worthwright and Zephandel.”

“Seven guards?” Queen Elna shrieks, shaking her head. “You would only bring seven, including yourself, to protect the Crown Prince of Herbin?”

“As Prince Vycious said—” Reni starts, only to be silenced by King Telus.

“My love, we have known Captain Vel since she was small, before she was ever a knight. We have always trusted her with the lives of our children, even then.”

“But we’d be sending him off to his death! Telus I cannot—”

“My love, my life,” King Telus turns fully so he faces Queen Elna, taking both her hands and pressing a kiss to each. “Our son will be safe if the Captain’s more-than-capable hands. You needn’t worry.”

“My Queen,” Reni says softly, “I will protect Prince Vycious with my life. As I did for Princess Alina when I was her personal guard. I will ensure Prince Vycious gets back to you, no matter the cost. I swear it upon the gods shining above and the dead beneath our feet.”

Queen Elna sighs, nodding after a long moment. “Send the message to Captain Plantatos. Prince Vycious will negotiate with her,” she says, staring at Reni for a long moment. 

The Generals stand and leave the room. Nalia glares at Reni, flicking her robes as she stands and exits. Reni stands and bows. 

“Captain,” King Telus says, standing and walking over to Reni, “as soon as we receive word back from Plantatos, you will escort my son to Ricadie. Plantatos will more than likely refuse to meet unless one of her ships picks you up from the port so be prepared for that. Please keep my son safe as you have all these years with all my children.”

Reni nods and turns to leave, glancing back at Queen Elna for a second. Reni closes the door to the war room and flinches when she sees Nalia standing right in front of her, magic sparking through the air around them. 

“I cannot believe you! Agreeing to that?” Nalia hisses, grabbing Reni’s arm and pulling her to the nearest place for them to talk privately.

Nalia opens the door to her library and workshop, bowing her head quickly before pulling Reni in and slamming the door closed, locking it with her magic. 

“You suggested that we—” 

Reni is cut off by Nalia desperately grabbing her hands. “I didn’t mean we should send someone to her ship to negotiate, let alone send you !”

“Nalia, I’ll be—”

“You don’t know that! Plantatos is a mage for the dead’s sake! Not bringing a mage of your own is a death sentence!”

“Nalia—”

“No,” Nalia snaps, slapping Reni across the face. “You don’t get to talk right now. I’m talking.”

Nalia shoves Reni back onto a chair, standing in front of her. “You’re so stupid sometimes! Gods above, you know the chances of you coming back are slim, right?”

Reni stares up at Nalia as she heaves out breaths. Reni takes Nalia’s shaking hands, squeezing them. “I’ll be fine, Nals.”

Nalia lets out a shaky breath. “I want to make you swear it, but I know that wouldn’t be fair with how slim your chances of survival are.”

Reni looks away from Nalia, sucking in a deep breath. “I swear upon the gods shining above and the dead beneath our feet that I will come back to you.”

Nalia’s eyes widen, she grabs Reni’s face, making Reni look at her. “Why would you do that? Why would you forsake yourself to eternal punishment? Reni, why?”

“I have no intention of breaking that promise,” Reni says softly. “I haven’t forsaken myself to anything.”

Nalia groans. “If you don’t come back, I’m going to bring you back from the dead myself and kill you.”

“I better not die, then.”

Nalia sighs, pulling Reni to her feet so she can press her face into Reni’s neck. “If you die…”

“I won’t.”

“But if you do—”

“I won’t die, Nalia.”

“But—”

“No, don’t even think about it,” Reni whispers, kissing the top of Nalia’s head.

Notes:

Author's Note: I guess I’m on a streak of shorter chapters now. The next one or the one after that should be longer. See you soon!

Sincerely,

Archz

(1247 Words)

Chapter 9: Six

Reni adjusts the straps of her heavy duty steel armor. The same armor that the guards of the castle wear on duty. Although hers has the captain’s insignia across the chest. 

The small red boat—though Reni supposes it is bigger than most of the fishing boats docked in Ricadie—pulls up to the end of the dock they’d pre-selected and have been waiting at for over an hour.

A boy, not much other than Prince Vycious jumps off the deck, sliding down the rope he holds. Once he lands on the dock, he ties the rope around one of the posts to anchor the boat to the dock. 

Reni walks up to the boy, keeping her hand off the hilt of her sword hanging off her left hip. The group of guards surrounding Vycious step up with Reni. 

The pirate boy grins at them. The malice in his eyes would normally be reason enough for Reni to prepare for a fight but she still keeps her hand off her sword. This can’t go badly. They don’t want a war to break out.

The boy whistles and a rope ladder gets tossed down by a much older girl, covered in tattoos and scars. The boy motions for Reni and the rest of Vycious’ entourage to climb up. 

Reni eyes the boy for a moment, checking the hold of the ladder before climbing up herself. Two of the guards follow behind her, then Vycious, then the rest of the guards. 

The boy unties the rope from the dock and climbs up the ladder, pulling it up onto the deck and tying it down once he’s up. 

“Captain,” Vycious whispers, pushing past the guards standing in front of him to stand next to Reni, “you are surprisingly passive right now.”

“I do not wish to cause a war, Prince Vycious,” Reni whispers back, carefully watching the dozen pirates on the deck with them. 

After a few moments, they begin to pass through the fleet of twenty large ships with plenty of smaller ships in the mix. They approach the biggest one, certainly more than thirty times larger than the boat they’re currently on. 

Pirates work to secure ropes between the ships. A ladder is tossed down onto the ship. Reni grunts and climbs up. 

The group is led to the Captain’s cabin at the stern of the ship. Reni walks through the open door, stepping off to the side for Vycious to step before her and up to Plantatos’ desk. 

“Prince Vycious,” Plantatos says, gesturing for him to sit. “I was surprised to get your request for a meeting.”

Vycious sits in one of the leather chairs on the other side of Plantatos’ desk. “I’m sure you were, Captain.”

Reni looks over Plantatos. She’s wearing all blue and gold clothing. Her hat included. What surprises Reni is how clean her clothes are. There’s not a speck of blood or dirt or wine on her. 

“I want to be clear with you,” Plantatos says, picking up a golden chalice and taking a drip. “This meeting is mostly out of curiosity. It’s very unlikely that you will walk out of this convincing me to turn my ships around.”

Vycious nods. “I figured but we thought it best to try a peaceful approach first.”

Plantatos laughs, setting her chalice down. “How very noble of you,” she mocks. 

Vycious clenches the arms of his chair. Reni almost steps forward to intervene but stops herself.

“I’m just joking, Prince Vycious,” Plantatos stands, bracing her hands on her desk. “You and I both know there isn’t a ’peaceful solution’ to this problem. As soon as you step foot on my ship, you were already doomed.”

Reni’s hand falls to the hilt of her sword. The other six guards do the same.

Plantatos smirks, turning to acknowledge them for a moment before looking to Reni. “You seem ready for a fight.”

"You threatened the Crown Prince of Herbin."

Plantatos chuckles, walking around her desk, standing a few feet from Reni. “I was making a joke.”

Reni clenches her jaw. “It was a terrible one.”

Plantatos laughs, her gaze turns to Prince Vycious. “You brought seven guards with you. How funny.”

The six other guards look to Vycious. Vycious stands, his hands forming fists. His face remains expressionless. "I did not come to start a fight," he says calmly.

Plantatos laughs again, placing her hip against her desk and folding her arms. “You’d be stupid to think there’d be any other option.”

Reni glances from Plantatos to Prince Vycious. Her grip tightens around the hilt of her sword. Plantatos turns, sitting on the edge of her desk in front of Reni. She leans forward and lowers her voice, but just loud enough for Reni to hear, “You’re cute.”

Reni’s expression remains stoic, not giving Plantatos the satisfaction of a reaction. “Not interested.”

“Pity,” Plantatos says, waving her hand.

The pirates in the rooms draw their swords. Reni and the other guards do the same. “Zephandel,” Reni says, “get the prince out of here.”

Zephandel nods, wings unfurl from under his armor. He grabs the prince and two of the other guards and sprints out of the room, taking off as soon as he can. 

“Damnit!” Plantatos shouts, her pirates rush to go after the Prince, but she holds a hand up. “No! Let them go. We have something better to deal with.”

Reni tries to take a step forward and swing her sword but she’s too late. She can feel Plantatos’ magic fill the room, freezing Reni and the four remaining guards in place. The pirates kill the other four guards. 

Reni screams, trying to move. 

“It’s no use, little knight,” Plantatos says, gripping Reni’s chin as a ball of light forms in her hand.

Reni’s eyes widen and she struggles against the magic binding her, panic filling her. “Get your filthy hands off me,” she snaps, glaring at Plantatos.

Plantatos just grins, running her thumb over Reni’s cheek. “Aw, the brave little knight is scared. How adorable.”

Plantatos presses the ball of light against Reni’s forehead. Reni’s eyes roll back into her head and she goes limp, falling to the floor.

 

– – – – –

 

Reni gasps, opening her eyes. Reni isn’t wearing her armor, just her undershirt and trousers. Her hands are chained to the ceiling. She hangs in the air, her legs chained to the floor so she can’t kick. Reni tries to pull on the chains but they immediately shock her.

“It’s no use,” Plantatos snorts, stepping into the dim light of whatever room Reni’s being held in. “I enchanted those bindings to shock you if you try to escape.”

“Plantatos,” Reni growls.

“Now now,” Plantatos says, stepping towards Reni and grabbing her chin. “I think introductions are in order. I am Captain Xana Plantatos. Tell me, what is your name?”

Reni glares at Plantatos, refusing to answer. 

Plantatos chuckles, running her thumb over Reni’s cheek. “You’re a stubborn one, aren’t you? I like that. It’s more fun to break stubborn people.”

Reni hisses in pain but refuses to answer. 

Plantatos grins, yanking Reni’s head back. “Playing the tough one, I see? We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”

Reni stares defiantly at Plantatos, her fists clenched and muscles straining against the restraints. “Do your worst,” Reni bites out.

Plantatos tuts, tightening her grip on Reni’s hair. “I admire your defiance, truly. But I have my ways of breaking people. And trust me, I’ll get you to talk.” She leans in close, her breath hot against Reni’s ear. “You’ll tell me everything I want to know.”

Reni swallows, her heart pounding in her chest. “You’ll get nothing out of me,” she says, her voice steady despite the fear that’s creeping up on her.

Plantatos’ smile turns sadistic. She releases Reni and walks to a nearby table. “I’m sure you were trained in some of the ways Herbin likes to torture it’s dungeon ers. But there are people who are trained to do worse. See, I was once a dungeon er of King Telus. I was held in a special facility for a year and a half. I was eventually saved by some of my pirates. We killed those torturers but I kept their tools.”

Plantatos comes back over to Reni, a small knife in her hand. 

Reni’s eyes widen as she sees the knife, her heart beginning to beat even faster. She tries to keep her fear hidden, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult. 

Plantatos leans in close, her face inches from Reni’s. “You see, darling, I learned a few things during my time with those torturers,” She runs the blade lightly down Reni’s cheek, leaving a thin cut behind.

Reni’s skin burns slightly where the blade touched her, and she feels a shiver run down her spine. Plantatos smiles, clearly relishing in Reni’s fear. “You’ll never be able to withstand what I’ve got planned for you,” she says softly. “No matter how strong or determined you think you are, you can only take so much before you break.”

Plantatos takes the knife and cuts open Reni’s shirt, tearing it off her. Reni still wears her chest binder but that doesn’t cover up most of her torso. 

“So many scars, little knight,” Plantatos says, running her fingers over some of the scars.

Reni’s body tenses as Plantatos traces her fingers over the scars on her torso. She tries to keep her expression neutral, but her eyes betray a hint of the raw fear and vulnerability she feels beneath Plantatos’ touch. Plantatos chuckles softly, clearly enjoying Reni’s discomfort. “You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?” she says, her hand moving to touch the bottom of Reni’s chest binder.

Plantatos’ hand lightly brushes against the bottom of Reni’s chest binder and she smirks, tilting her head to the side in mock contemplation. “Such an interesting choice of clothing…” she says, her hand now resting on the center of Reni’s chest.

Reni’s heart thumps beneath Plantatos’ hand, the sound so loud and fast that Reni can almost hear it in her own ears. She feels the cold of Plantatos’ rings against her skin and tries desperately to ignore the shudder that runs through her body at the touch. Plantatos’ smirk deepens, her hand moving down to Reni’s abdomen.

Reni thrashes against her chains, trying to escape Plantatos’ touch only to be electrocuted by the enchantments on the chains. 

The electricity courses through Reni’s body, her muscles seizing up as she cries out. Her body slumps forward as the electricity cuts off and she hangs limply from the chains. Reni’s head swims, her breath coming out in sharp pants.

Plantatos’ hand slides up Reni’s body until it’s around her throat. She leans in close, so close that Reni can feel her breath on her face. A shiver runs down Reni’s spine and her heart races even faster, her hands clenching into fists in her bonds.

“Are you ready to tell me your name, little knight?” Plantatos asks.

Reni’s head spins as she tries to think of anything other than the hand around her throat. She sucks in a breath and tries to clear her head, but all she can focus on is the feeling of Plantatos’ hand against her skin. 

“W-why do you c-care?” Reni coughs out.

Plantatos chuckled, her hand tightening slightly around Reni’s throat. “Oh, I have my reasons, dear,” she says, her voice low and dangerous. “Now, you will answer my question or I will make your pain worse. Are you ready to tell me your name?”

Reni closes her eyes, desperation making it hard to think clearly. Her mind races as she tries to find a way out of this, but the feeling of Plantatos’ hand on her throat is too overwhelming. She takes a deep, ragged breath and nods once, her entire body trembling. “Reni…” she whispers, her voice hoarse.

Plantatos’ eyes light up. “Reni,” she muses, “such a sweet name for such a fierce little thing.” Plantatos’ hand relaxes on Reni’s throat, moving to cup her cheek instead.

Reni opens her eyes, blinking up at Plantatos in confusion. The sudden change in tone and touch causes a small shiver to run down her spine. She can’t bring herself to speak, still trying to catch her breath.

Plantatos grins down at Reni, her thumb rubbing gentle circles over her cheek. “You’re quite a thing, aren’t you?” she says, her voice almost as soft as silk. “Strong and bold. I bet you’re used to being in control. But right now, you’re all mine.”

Reni’s heart races as Plantatos’ words cut through her. She opens her mouth to retort, but Plantatos’ hand on her cheek moves to her chin, tipping it up. She leans down, her face only inches away from Reni’s.

“You look even prettier from this angle,” Plantatos murmurs. Her eyes roam over Reni’s face, taking in every feature. Her fingers trail down Reni’s jawline, then along her neck, leaving a trail of tingles in their wake.

“You’re trembling,” Plantatos observes, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. “Are you scared?” Her hand moves down to Reni’s collarbone, her thumb grazing lightly over her pulse point.

Reni’s heart thumps loudly, echoing in her ears. She tries to keep her face schooled, but the flush creeping up her neck betrays her. “I’m not scared of you,” she manages to say, her voice cracking slightly.

Plantatos lets out a soft laugh as she circles behind Reni. Her fingers trail lightly along Reni’s shoulders, tracing patterns along her arms. “Then why are you trembling?” she asks, her breath tickling Reni’s ear.

Plantatos drags the knife across Reni’s back. Reni bites her lips so hard it bleeds. She holds in the scream her body so desperately wants to let out. Reni winces as Plantatos swipes two fingers down the cut. 

Plantatos smirks as her fingers come away with small streaks of blood. She brings them up to her face, studying the red on her skin. Her tongue darts out to lick her fingers, her smirk widening. 

“You taste good, sweetheart,” Plantatos purrs. “Like a royal. Tell me, Reni, what is your family name?”

Reni keeps her lips tightly sealed, her gaze unwavering as she stares at the wall in front of her. Her body tenses as Plantatos leans in closer, her breath hot in her ear. “I asked you a question, darling,” Plantatos says, her voice low and dangerous. “I’d suggest you answer me.” 

Plantatos taps the knife’s tip against Reni’s spine, the cold metal sending a shiver down her back.

Reni lets out a shaky breath, her jaw clenching as she fights the urge to give in to the pain. “I’m no one,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper. “Just a knight.”

“Oh I suggest you don’t lie to me,” Plantatos says, dragging the knife down Reni’s back.

Reni’s back arches away from the knife, her breath coming out in ragged exhales as Plantatos traces the knife over her skin. She bites hard on her lip, refusing to scream or cry or even wince. 

“I’m not lying,” Reni says through gritted teeth.

“I can taste it in your blood, Reni, darling. You are royalty. Tell me, how does royalty become a lowly knight?”

Reni’s body tenses as Plantatos says her name. It sounds too intimate coming from her. Reni closes her eyes, her jaw clenching. “That’s none of your business,” she says after a long moment, her voice hard.

“Tell me your family name and tell me how you became a knight,” Plantatos demands, plunging the knife into Reni’s side.

Reni muffles a groan, her body bucking against the pain. She takes in a deep breath, her chest heaving. “My family name is Vel. My little brother, Lium, is the heir to our duchy,” she says tersely. “I became a knight so he would be the heir elect, not me.”

Plantatos hums, pulling her knife free from Reni’s side. Her blood pools on the wooden floor beneath them. 

“How very interesting,” Plantatos says, walking back around to Reni’s front.

Plantatos tosses her knife back on the table, grabbing a bandage and wrapping it around Reni’s torso. She pats the wound and smiles at Reni before walking out of the room, the lock clicking in place behind her.

Reni lets out a shaky breath, tears falling and mixing with the pool of her blood below her. She prays to the gods above and the dead below that Vycious made it back to the castle alive.

Notes:

Author’s Note: We’re back! Thank you so much for reading so far! I really appreciate it!
Sincerely,
Archz
(2755 Words)

Chapter 10: Seven

“Lady Nalia!” A voice calls through the door into her workshop. “Lady Nalia, Prince Vycious has returned! They’re in—”

Nalia jumps up from her chair, opening her door with her magic and running past the guard who’s still mid-sentence. 

“—the infirmary with Marska.”

Nalia runs through the halls, slamming the double doors into the infirmary open with her magic. “Where is she?” Nalia shouts, looking around the infirmary for Reni.

Zephandel grimaces, watching as Marska stitches up the giant gash down his left arm. Vycious glances at Nalia for a split second before turning his gaze back to the of his guards—besides Zephandel—who are being treated for various minor wounds. 

Nalia stops in her tracks. Her eyes widen, trying to steady her breathing and keep the tears threatening her eyes from falling. “Where is Captain Vel?” Nalia asks softly, watching as the three knights under Reni’s command look anywhere but Nalia. “Where is she?”

“Dammit!” Nalia shouts, sparks of magic flying off her. “ Where is Reni ?”

Vycious turns to Nalia, taking a cautious step to her. He takes Nalia’s hand and looks her in the eyes. “She sacrificed herself so the four of us could escape.”

“No,” Nalia says, shaking her head. “No, she said she would come back. She promised! She swore it!”

Nalia drops to her knees, staring at her hands. Tears pool in the palms of her hands, sliding across her skin and wetting her cotton robes. 

There’s a beat of silence. The only sound coming from the shuffling of healers, knights, and the sound of Zephandel wincing as Marska finishes stitching up his arm. 

Vycious kneels in front of Nalia. “She’s not dead, Nalia,” he says softly. “Plantatos didn’t kill her. As we were escaping I saw Plantatos use magic to incapacitate Reni.”

Nalia’s head snaps up and she glares at Vycious. “How is that any better?” Nalia snaps. “That could mean anything! Reni doesn’t deserve to be a dungeon er!”

Vycious flinches, rubbing his arm awkwardly. “It’s at least better than her being dead…” Vycious says, quietly. “As long as Reni is alive, there is a chance to get her back.”

“A chance?” Nalia scoffs. “A chance ? Plantatos is well known for being one of the worst torturers in all of Vastocina! Most of her victims never make it back to their homes and if they do, they rarely recover!”

“Nalia, please, you have to calm down—”

“Calm down? Reni is probably getting tortured right now! And I’m supposed to calm down?” Nalia stands, slapping Vycious’ hand away from her, the guards in the room draw their weapons, pointing them at Nalia.

Vycious motions for them to stand down. “I’m fine. It was well deserved,” he says, more to himself than the guards or Nalia.

“Damnit!” Nalia smacks a hand off the counter next to her, sending a few medical instruments to the ground. “You don’t understand what Reni is probably going through, Vycious. Plantatos is brutal. She will break Reni one way or another.”

“I don’t want Reni to be harmed anymore than you do, Nalia! But I do know that as long as she’s alive, there is a chance to save her. That’s all that really matters.“

Nalia scoffs, turning away from him. “I will be in my office. If you want to help me save her, then convince your father to send me— alone —to save her myself.”

“You? By yourself? That’s a death sentence and you know it.” Vycious closes the distance between himself and Nalia, grabbing her hand and forcing her to look at him.

Nalia rips her hand from his. “I am the most powerful mage in Herbin and among Herbin’s allies. I might even be the most powerful mage on Neleta,” Nalia’s voice drops, low and dangerous. “It is not a death sentence. Anyone else would be a liability. I can infiltrate Plantatos’ pirates and save Reni but I can only do it alone.”

Vycious looks to Zephandel and the other two guards to see what they think of Nalia’s plan but they all avoid his gaze. 

“Fine,” Vycious says after a moment. “I’ll get my father to agree on one condition.”

“What?”

“You don’t do anything until you get a full plan. No rushing in when you don’t think you have the best plan.”

Fine,” Nalia says after a moment. “I’ll make a full plan before I do anything.”

 

– – – – –

 

Nalia adjusts the saddle of her horse, making sure the saddle bags are secure. It’s been four days since Vycious got back. She sighs, rubbing her hands down her face.

Nalia walks her horse out of the stables, pausing when she sees Vycious, Alina, and Prince Lium waiting for her. Lium steps up to Nalia, leaving the two Von Dawn heirs behind. 

“Nalia,” Lium says softly, holding a small charm made of a stick bent into a circle with spider silk strung around it and feathers hanging off the bottom, “this is a sort of good luck charm from before Arivel was a duchy…”

Lium trails off, hooking the charm on the inside of Nalia’s archmage’s robes, right over her heart. “Please bring my sister home. I have duties back in Arivel but I will be back as soon as I can once you bring her back,” Lium says, motioning for Vycious and Alina to come over. “Safe travels, Nalia.”

Lium walks back into the castle, leaving Nalia with Vycious, Alina, and her horse. 

Vycious holds Alina’s shoulder, pushing her slightly forward. Alina stumbles a little, glancing back at Vycious as he walks away. Alina sighs, looking back at Nalia. “I know we don’t get along… at all… but,” Alina sighs again, looking at the ground, “bring my Reni back, please .”

Nalia bites her cheek to hold in her scoff. Up until yesterday, Alina had no clue Reni was missing. Alina was so absorbed in her anger toward Reni, she didn’t notice her best friend was missing. The only reason she realized, is because she overheard some servants gossiping about it. It makes Nalia sick.

“I plan on it, Princess.”

“Good…” Alina murmurs, crossing her arms. “Be as quick as you can.”

Nalia forces herself to nod rather than snap at Alina, even though she would love to tell Alina everything she thinks of her. 

Nalia climbs up on her horse and rides in the direction of Ricade.

Notes:

Author’s Note: An addition! I was originally planning on only focusing on what happens to Reni but I like this chapter.
Sincerely,
Archz
(1058 Words)

Chapter 11: Eight

Reni is forced awake by a hand grabbing her hair. She gasps, eyes wide as she looks at Plantatos. 

“Ah,” Plantatos says, her hand pulling on Reni’s hair, forcing Reni to look up at her. “You’re awake. Excellent, I was getting tired of waiting.”

Reni narrows her eyes at the Captain, trying to wrench her head away only for Plantatos to grab her chin. Plantatos grins down at her. She runs her hand over Reni’s cheek. 

Plantatos presses a finger into the puncture wound she created the night before. Reni gasps as the wound stings, her face scrunching up as she tries to pull away from the pain. 

Plantatos has a sly look on her face as she looks down at the younger girl, “Hurts, doesn’t it?”

“Fuck you,” Reni hisses. 

Plantatos laughs quietly and leans closer to Reni. “Oh... I plan to,” Plantatos murmurs before pressing down a bit harder, earning a whimper from Reni.

“You—You’re twisted!” Reni hisses in pain. 

Plantatos just laughs again. “Oh, my dear Reni, you have no idea just how twisted I can be,” She leans down again, her hot breath on Reni’s neck making her shiver.

“It’s a shame really. Someone as pretty as you made to be a guard, is just a waste,” Plantatos punctuates her words by pressing the injury, eliciting a gasp of pain. “Maybe I should keep you. Make you mine?”

“Don’t you fucking dare.”

Plantatos just chuckles darkly, her free hand trailing its way through Reni’s hair, the grip tightening to hold her head still. “Who’s going to stop me?”

Reni glares up at her defiantly. “You’re a sick monster.”

Plantatos laughs, her grip on the knight’s hair tightening. “Oh, my darling, you have no idea…” She leans closer, her lips brushing against the shell of Reni’s ear. “And you will be mine. I will break you and you will beg for me.”

Plantatos releases Reni’s hair, stepping over to her table and grabbing something. She walks behind Reni before she can see what Plantatos grabbed. 

Reni hears a soft thump as something hits the floor. There’s a crack, followed by a rush of burning pain across Reni’s back. Reni can’t hold in her scream. She goes slack against the chains holding her in the air. 

The whip cuts through Reni’s chest binder. It falls into the pool of her blood below her. 

Plantatos looks Reni up and down. She smirks, licking her lips. “This is a better look for you. Covered in blood.”

Reni lets out a weak laugh, wincing as the movement pulls at her back. “You’re repulsive.”

There’s another crack and Reni cries out again. She falls limp against her chains like before, her hair covering her face as her head hangs. She spits blood from her mouth.

“You think I haven’t been tortured before, pirate scum?”

A sinister chuckle leaves Plantatos’ lips. She sets the whip down, coming to stand in front of Reni. She reaches out, grabbing Reni’s chin to force her to look up. “Oh, I don’t doubt you’ve been tortured, my little knight. But I do doubt you’ve ever experienced the things I’m going to do to you.”

Reni tries to keep her expression neutral, but a shiver runs through her body despite her best efforts to suppress it. “You’ll regret this. The Kingdom of Herbin will destroy you,” Reni hisses through gritted teeth.

Plantatos laughs, a sinister smile spreading across her face. “Oh, I doubt it,” she says, her grip tightening on Reni’s chin. “Do you really think the Kingdom of Herbin will start a war over you? A lowly knight? You’re not worth it to them.”

“I’m not some lowly knight,” Reni spits. “I’m the fucking captain of the royal guard.”

“Oh, I know,” Plantatos croons, her voice like silk. “But you’re still expendable. Herbin won’t start a war over you. They’ll just replace you. They will forget about you. But I won’t.”

Reni’s body shivers involuntarily. She tries to shove down the fear and frustration building up inside her, but the way Plantatos touches her, the way she speaks to her, it’s all getting under her skin.

Plantatos’ hand moves to Reni’s cheek, her touch almost tender as she brushes her thumb over her skin. “You’re so strong, little knight,” she says, her voice low. “But you’re all alone. No one is coming to save you. You’re mine.”

Plantatos presses a few fingers against the stab wound on Reni’s side. Reni screams, thrashing which makes the lashings she’d just gotten hurt even worse.

Plantatos smirks as she holds Reni by the chin, tipping her head back so that their eyes meet. 

“Sensitive, aren’t we?” Plantatos says, her voice dripping with sadistic pleasure as she leans in close, her lips brushing against Reni’s ear. “I wonder, my feisty little knight, what other sensitive areas you have.”

Plantatos’ hand moves down Reni’s body, her fingers trailing over her chest, her stomach, before coming to rest on the waistband of her trousers. A small, strangled noise escapes Reni’s lips, and she wrenches her head to the side, refusing to look at Plantatos.

Plantatos chuckles softly, her hand lingering just above the waistband of Reni’s trousers. She can feel the girl trembling beneath her fingers, her body tense and ready to pull back at any moment. “You don’t like being touched, do you, my sweet girl?” she purrs, her hand dipping just slightly lower.

“Not by you,” Reni spits, pain and fear forcing her voice to betray her weakness.

Plantatos laughs softly, her hand slipping just beneath the waistband of Reni’s trousers. She leans in close, her breath hot against Reni’s ear. “Such a stubborn little thing you are,” she whispers, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. “But I have a feeling I know just how to break you.”

“Don’t you dare ,” Reni hisses, thrashing against her chains and earning a shock from the enchantment on them. 

Plantatos tuts softly, her free hand grasping Reni’s chin and forcing her to look at her. “Don’t thrash too much, love,” she says, her lip curling into a smirk. “You’re just making it more difficult for yourself.”

“Don’t pretend to care about me.”

Plantatos’ smirk grows wider as she leans in even closer. “Oh, but I do care, darling,” she murmurs, her hand inching further down in Reni’s trousers. “I care a great deal about all of my toys.”

“I am not a toy for you to enjoy!” Reni growls, her entire body tensing as Plantatos’ hands dip lower.

Plantatos chuckles softly, her hand slowly moving up the inside of Reni’s thighs. “Oh, but you are , darling Reni. You’re mine to do with as I please. And I intend to enjoy every single moment.” 

Plantatos runs her fingertips over Reni’s inner thighs, teasing the edge of her underwear. Reni flinches, trying to get away. She goes limp as she’s electrocuted again. 

“See, I told you not to thrash. The shocking isn’t pleasant, darling,” Plantatos sneers, leaning in closer until their lips are almost touching. 

She moves her hand higher, teasing Reni’s underwear. Reni’s breath hitches as Plantatos’ hand presses against her. Her thighs tremble under the touch. 

“You’re trembling, darling,” Plantatos whispers, her lips brushing against Reni’s ear. “Are you scared of me?”

Reni tries to look away, but Plantatos’ other hand grabs her chin, forcing her to look at her. “I asked you a question, love,” she says, her eyes locking with Reni’s. “Are you scared?”

Plantatos’ hand presses harder against Reni, making her let out a small gasp. “I can hear your heart pounding through your skin,” she murmurs, her lips hovering over Reni’s neck. “I can feel how nervous you are.”

Reni lets out a shuddering breath as Plantatos’ hand continues its ministrations. Her body trembles uncontrollably as the pain of the binding slowly mixes with something else. Plantatos’ touches suddenly become more exploratory, more insistent. Reni jerks backwards, gasping as another wave of pain courses through her. This time she doesn’t try to repress the whimper in her throat. Plantatos runs her thumb along Reni’s bottom lip, her touch almost gentle.

Plantatos removes her hand for a moment, squeezing Reni’s chin before grabbing her knife and cutting Reni’s pants and underwear off.

Plantatos trails her hand back over Reni’s thigh, to her inner thigh where she traces little patterns there for a moment. She presses herself up against Reni, gently biting Reni’s neck. 

Reni winces, forcing herself not to thrash away. “Don’t please,” she whispers.

Plantatos grins, kissing the place she just bit as her hand moves up. Reni flinches as Plantatos’ fingers tease up and down her slit.

“Don’t, Plantatos, please,” Reni says a little louder.

“Why not?” Plantatos asks, moving her kisses up Reni’s neck. “You’re enjoying this, Reni. You want this.”

“No I—”

Plantatos slips her fingers into Reni, curling them. Reni gasps, tears clog up her throat. She pulls at her chains again, falling limp as she gets shocked. Plantatos snickers as she sloppily kisses Reni’s neck.

A soft half-moan, half-gasp escapes Reni as Plantatos starts to pump her fingers. 

“There you go,” Plantatos coos, gently rubbing her thumb against Reni’s clit. “That’s good, relax.”

Reni whimpers, sobbing as her head hangs. Her head lands on Plantatos’ shoulder. She doesn’t have the energy to even pull her head up or move her head away from Plantatos. 

“Stop,” Reni mutters between sobs and gasps. “Stop it. Please.”

Plantatos curls her fingers again, picking up her pace. “Stop resisting, Reni darling. I know you like this.”

A choked moan leaves Reni’s lips. Plantatos pulls back to look at Reni, using her other hand to hold Reni’s head up. She leans in and kisses Reni, moving her hand faster when Reni doesn’t respond to the kiss. 

Reni moans. Plantatos forces her tongue into Reni’s mouth. She grins into the kiss as she feels Reni start to shake again. 

Plantatos pulls out of the kiss letting Reni’s head drop to her shoulder again. “You’re getting close, aren’t you?” She asks, pressing her thumb harder against Reni’s clit.

“Don’t,” Reni sobs. “Please don’t make me—”

Reni is cut off by her own gasp. She presses her eyes closed. She feels herself clamp down on Plantatos’ fingers. 

“That’s a good girl,” Plantatos soothes, stroking Reni’s hair with her free hand as she licks the fingers coated in Reni’s cum. 

Plantatos leaves the room after another moment. Reni feels bile bubble up her throat. She gags and spills the minimal contents of her stomach.

Notes:

Author's Note: Sorry this one’s dark. It’s going to be for another few chapters.
Sincerely,
Archz
(1750 Words)

Chapter 12: Nine

A boy, thinner and younger than most of the other pirates Reni had seen, enters the room. He sets the mop and bucket he carries down and starts to clean the blood and vomit from the floor. 

Reni hazily looks up at the kid for a moment before letting her head slump back down. 

Plantatos returns as the boy leaves the room. He mutters a quiet, “Here you are, Captain Xana,” as Plantatos locks the door behind him. 

Plantatos leans back against her table, crossing her arms across her chest and grinning Reni hanging limply from the chains.

Reni hangs limply against her chains, her head drooping and her hair matted with sweat and tears. She keeps her eyes averted from Plantatos, trying to push down the mixture of shame and anger that floods her body. 

Plantatos chuckles softly, her eyes roaming over Reni’s destroyed body. “You look wrecked, my little knight,” she says, her voice low and smug. “Exhausted?”

Reni doesn’t respond, her gaze still fixed on the floor. Plantatos clicks her tongue, taking a few lazy steps over and standing right in front of Reni. 

Plantatos grabs Reni’s chin, tilting it up and forcing Reni to look at her. Reni’s eyes snap up to meet Plantatos’ gaze, defiance still burning in them. 

Plantatos smiles at her, her grip on Reni’s chin tightening slightly. “Stubborn as ever,” she says, her tone teasing. “You just can’t help but put up a fight, can you?”

Reni glares up at Plantatos, her jaw set in a stubborn line. She refuses to give in, to give the pirate captain the satisfaction of seeing her broken. “I’m not your plaything,” she says, her voice hoarse and quiet. “I won’t break that easily.”

A mocking glint flashes in Plantatos’ eyes as she steps closer, her body nearly pressing against Reni’s. “Oh, are you sure about that, my darling?” she purrs, running her hand up and down Reni’s chest. “I have plenty of ways to break you.”

Plantatos walks over to the table and grabs the whip. She lashes Reni’s back over and over until it’s almost entirely open and bleeding. Reni’s voice is gone. She can’t scream anymore. 

Once Reni’s back is a canvas of red open gashes from the whip, Plantatos moves to grab something else, it’s long and phallic looking. 

Plantatos grins, shoving it up Reni’s vagina. She moves painfully fast. The unlubricated wooden cock pulls at Reni’s walls. Reni sobs, too weak from the lashings to even try to move away. 

Plantatos uses her other hand to slowly rub Reni’s clit. Despite herself, this makes Reni grow wetter. Allowing the wooden cock to slide in and out of her with a little more ease. 

“Good girl,” Plantatos coos, grining as she moves her hand ever so slightly faster against Reni’s clit. 

Reni is too tired to try to suppress the strangled moans Plantatos forces out of her. Her eyes start to hurt from crying so much as the heat in her stomach starts to grow tighter. 

Plantatos grins, pulling the wooden cock out of Reni and taking her hand away. Reni groans in protest, barely aware that she does it. 

After a few minutes, Plantatos comes back with a bigger wooden cock. She makes sure the building pleasure in Reni’s body mostly subsides before shoving it up into Reni, this time moving agonizingly slow. 

Reni moans, her body shaking as she’s stretched. 

“There you go,” Plantatos praises, returning her fingers to Reni’s clit. 

Reni sucks in a sharp breath, her hips moving in time with Plantatos as she shoves the wooden cock into her. 

Reni’s hips move faster. Plantatos tuts and pulls her hand and the wooden cock out again, watching with twisted delight as Reni’s body comes down, unsatisfied, for the second time. 

Plantatos repeats the process another four times, each time using a bigger wooden cock, before allowing Reni to orgasim. After which, Plantatos leaves, sending a pirate in to clean and bandage Reni’s back. 

Reni passes out the moment the alcohol soaked cloth touches her wounds. 

 

– – – – –

 

Reni has been hanging by those chains for two weeks. Her mind is foggy. She can barely think about anything but the pain Xana has been subjecting her to. The only time it gets better is when Xana pleasures her instead. Reni can’t remember when she started thinking of her as Xana instead of Plantatos.

Xana comes into the room with a pile of simple clothes in hand. She sets the clothes down and unlocks the chains, carefully guiding Reni to the floor. 

“Here you are, my dearest,” Xana says, gently stroking Reni’s hair.

Xana scoops Reni up and brings her through a small side door into a smaller room with a wooden tub, already filled with steaming water. Xana lays Reni in the tub, briefly exiting to grab the pile of clothes from the torture room. 

 Reni’s entire body aches as she is lowered into the hot water, her skin stinging from the contact. She lets out a quiet gasp as the water envelops her, the heat both soothing and uncomfortable on her wounds. She can feel her muscles twitching involuntarily as the hot water begins to ease the tension in her body. 

Xana returns then, the pile of clothes in her arms. She sets the clothes down on a nearby stool before kneeling next to the tub. Xana gently begins to clean Reni’s body with a cloth, a tender look in her eyes.

“You need to eat soon, my sweet,” Xana whispers, her hand gently cupping Reni’s cheek. “You’re too thin.”

Reni is too tired to respond, her eyes barely open. Her entire focus is on the feel of the warm water and the gentle touch of Xana’s hands on her body.

Xana continues to wash Reni, her touch careful and tender, almost reverent as she works. Reni can’t help but lean into the touch, her body craving the gentle care.

Xana washes Reni’s hair, her fingers massaging the soap into Reni’s scalp. Reni can’t help but let out a soft moan as the sensations wash over her. She can feel her body becoming more and more relaxed, the pain and fatigue slowly melting away under Xana’s touch.

Xana smiles softly, her eyes full of warmth. “Can you speak, my love?” She asks softly. “Or are you still too exhausted?”

Reni manages a small nod. “Tired,” she hoarsely whispers.

Xana nods, her hand still running through Reni’s hair. “I know, my sweet,” she murmurs. “You’ve been through so much. But I’m going to take care of you now. I promise.”

She continues washing Reni, her touch careful and gentle as she tends to the raw and wounded skin on Reni’s back. Reni can feel the pain slowly fading as the soap and hot water soothe the wounds.

Xana finishes washing Reni, gently rinsing her hair before helping her out of the tub. Reni’s legs tremble as she stands, her body feeling weak and uncoordinated. But Xana is there to catch her, wrapping a towel around her and supporting her weight.

Xana scoops Reni up in her arms and carries her out of the bathing room, down a few halls and up two sets of stairs. Xana nods to the pirate near the door to her captain’s quarters and he opens the door, letting Xana in. 

Xana walks around her desk, through the curtains and into her bed chamber. She lays Reni on the bed, pulling the furs and woven blankets over Reni’s body. 

“I’m going to get you some food,” Xana murmurs, her hand brushing some of Reni’s damp hair off her forehead.

Reni nods weakly, her body already sinking into the soft bed. She watches as Xana walks out of the room, leaving her alone. The silence of the room is broken only by the soft sound of the crackling fireplace. 

Reni takes a moment to look around, taking in her surroundings. The room is richly furnished, adorned with expensive looking trinkets and decorations. A set of steel armor with a golden phoenix insignia over the chest catches her eye for a moment. It looks familiar but Reni can’t quite place why.

Reni closes her eyes, the pain and fatigue starting to wear heavily on her. She can feel herself start to drift off, exhaustion taking over.

Xana returns with a bowl of steaming soup in her hands. She sets it on the table next to the bed and sits next to Reni, her hand moving to stroke Reni’s hair. 

“Hey,” Xana whispers. “Wake up, just for a moment.”

Reni slowly opens her eyes, her body stirring under the blankets. She looks up at Xana, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. 

“I brought food,” Xana says softly. “Can you sit up? Just a little bit?”

Reni nods weakly and tries to sit up, grimacing as the movement pulls on her back. Xana gently helps Reni sit up, propping her up with pillows. 

“Here,” Xana says gently, dipping a spoon in the soup. “Open up.”

Reni opens her mouth as Xana brings the spoon to her lips. She swallows the hot, creamy soup, the broth soothing her dry throat.

Xana continues to feed Reni, taking her time and making sure she eats slowly. “That’s it,” Xana murmurs. “Just a little more, then you can go to sleep.”

Reni manages to finish the bowl of soup, her body sagging weakly against the pillows. She watches as Xana sets the empty bowl on the side table and takes Reni’s hand in hers.

Xana gently rubs her thumb over Reni’s knuckles, her touch tender and comforting. “How are you feeling?” She asks softly.

Reni takes a deep breath, her body still trembling with exhaustion. “I...I’m alright,” she whispers hoarsely. “Just... just tired.”

Xana’s expression softens, her eyes filled with concern. “I know, darling,” she says softly. “You’ve been through a lot. But you’re safe now.”

“My hero…” Reni murmurs, sleepily smiling at Xana.

Xana can’t help but smile at the endearing term. “Anything for you, my love,” she says, gently stroking Reni’s cheek. “Try to rest now. I’ll stay here with you.”

Reni nods weakly, her eyes already drooping with exhaustion. “Promise you won’t leave?” she whispers, her voice small and vulnerable.

“I promise,” Xana replies, her voice firm and reassuring. “I won’t leave your side. I’ll be right here whenever you need me.” 

She continues gently stroking Reni’s cheek, her touch tender and soothing.

As she drifts off to sleep, Reni feels a tingle of magic snake down her back. She knows she should remember whose magic it is, but she doesn’t. It isn’t a pirate, at least any that she’s met before. But Reni can’t place where she knows it from. 

Reni’s asleep before she can think any more about it.

Notes:

Author's Note: A little less dark (ish) today and slightly shorter as well. Is there anything you want to see happen in the story?
Sincerely,
Archz
(1804 Words)

Chapter 13: Ten

“Reni, dearest,” Xana says, pulling aside the curtain into her bedroom. “I’d like you to meet someone. She’s the most powerful mage I’ve seen in a long time and she’ll be studying under me for a while.”

Reni glances up from her next in Xana’s bed. The mage that follows behind Xana sends a pang though Reni’s mind. Reni doesn’t know how she knows this mage, or where she knows her from, but Reni knows her. 

The mage looks indifferent as her gaze flicks over Reni but the familiar magic she felt last night caresses her face. Reni can feel that magic emanating from the mage. 

“This is Maeveirel,” Xana says. 

“Please, Captain,” The mage says, frowning. “I’ve told you to call me Maeve.”

Maeve… that’s not what Reni called her. Reni thinks it’s her middle name. Maybe? Reni can’t be sure. 

Xana rolls her eyes. “ Maeve , this is my love, Reni.” 

Maeve stares Reni dead in the eyes and snorts. Snorts!  

“You said she was a warrior, Captain.”

Xana slaps Maeve across the face. Blood drips from Maeve’s nose onto her purple and gold robes. Maeve stumbles back, clutching one hand to her face while the other sparks with magic. She calms herself down but Reni can’t shake the familiarity of her magic.

“She’s in recovery. She’s a capable warrior,” Xana hisses. “Never disrespect her again.”

“Sorry, Captain ,” Maeve spits blood on the floor, wiping the last of the wet blood from her face until a smudged trail of blood is what remains. “Won’t happen again.”

“Captain Xana,” a pirate calls, ducking into the room, “there’s something you have to see.”

Xana sighs, glancing between Maeve and Reni. “I will be back. Maeve, don’t stray from this room.”

Xana follows the pirate out, leaving Reni with Maeve . The name feels wrong. Like it’s not actually her . Just a character. 

Maeve studies the armor Xana has displayed in the corner of the room. She runs her hand over the phoenix crest. 

“What happened to you?” Maeve asks so quietly, Reni almost misses it. The disinterested tone gone from her voice.

“Are you talking to me?” Reni asks, frowning. 

Maeve glances back at her, dropping her hand from the armor. For a moment, Maeve looks sad before she schools her expression.
“No, I am not talking to you,” Maeve says as she walks over to where Reni lies in Xana’s bed. 

Even as Maeve says that, her magic wraps around Reni and almost urges her to answer anyway. “So you were talking to the armor?” Reni asks, watching carefully as Maeve wraps her arms around her stomach. “Did you know who it belonged to?”

Although her face is disinterested, Reni can see the desperation in Maeve’s eyes. It’s like she’s pleading with Reni. Begging her to say something, anything. To tell her that Reni knows who Maeve is. But Reni doesn’t. She can’t remember. 

“Do you seriously not recognize me, Reni?” Maeve asks, frowning once again. “Do you not recognize your own armor?”

“My own—” Reni cuts herself off, shaking her head. “No, you’re mistaken. That’s not mine .”

“It is and you know it!” Nalia snaps. 

Nalia? Nalia. Nalia Maeveirel Des. Archmage of… Herbin. That armor is from a Herbin knight. A captain. 

“What are you doing here?” Reni asks, staring up at Nalia—Maeve—whatever she wants to be called—as she steps closer to Reni.

“I came to rescue the Captain of Herbin’s Royal Guard,” Nalia hisses. “But apparently she’s dead.”

“I wouldn’t know anything about that,” Reni scoffs, gingerly crossing her arms over her chest. 

“No, of course you wouldn’t! Why would you?” Nalia’s magic gently caresses Reni’s shoulder, down her arm. 

“I’m not whoever you think I am,” Reni says, shuddering under Nalia’s magic. “I’m sorry.”

Nalia stands right beside Reni, her knees pressed against Xana’s bed. She grab’s Reni’s chin, forcing Reni to look up at her. 

“What happened here?” Nalia asks as she brushes her thumb over a scar on Reni’s cheek. “Tell me you remember. You can’t have forgotten your entire life in two fucking weeks.”

“I took a poisoned knife protecting…” 

“Finish that sentence,” Nalia demands, griping Reni’s chin a little harder.

“Alina.”

“Exactly,” Nalia whispers, her voice soft for the first time since she’d been in the room with Reni. “I told you you would regret not taking the Captain’s position because you kept getting hurt while protecting Alina. I told you you would die if you kept being her guard.”

Nalia cups Reni’s face in her calloused and scarred hands. “Come back to me, Ren.”

“Nice distraction,” Xana says as she reenters the room. “The army was a neat little trick, Maeve. Tell me your real name, now.”

Reni gets up—probably too quickly for her far too fragile body—and grabs her sword, displayed behind Xana’s bed. She blocks an arrow made of ice, shot from Xana’s hand. 

“Reni, love, what has gotten into you?” Xana asks in that fake sweet voice she uses so much. 

“Fuck you, Captain Plantatos, ” Reni coughs. 

Reni feels Nalia’s magic wrap around her, crystalizing into armor that helps her stand. She charges for Xana, swinging her sword right for Xana’s middle. 

Blood splatters off Reni’s sword and from Xana’s torso as it slides off her hips. It makes a sloppy thump as Xana’s body falls to the floor in two separate pieces. 

Nalia exhales through her teeth. “I’m so glad we’re friends,” she mutters under her breath.

“Come on, Nalia,” Reni says, grabbing Nalia’s hand and dragging her over to the window. 

Reni kicks through the glass. Gritting her teeth as the armor disintegrates. She almost collapses to the floor as soon as the extra support falls away. Nalia catches her, wrapping one of Reni’s arms around her shoulders. 

“Got you,” Nalia says, summoning a crystal bird large enough for the both of them to ride. 

Reni passes out as soon as they’re safely in the air. 

 

– – – – –

 

Reni is in and out of consciousness as they reach Herbin’s castle. She’s vaguely aware when Nalia brings her to the infirmary and when Marska takes over. She thinks she remembers Marska’s hiss of disgust as she sees Reni’s destroyed back and cut up limbs. 

Reni forces her eyes open, turning to look at who’s holding her hand. 

“Ali?” Reni asks, her voice groggy.

“Hey… Re,” Alina says, her eyes slightly red and shiny trails from tears stain her cheeks. “I was worried about you. You were gone for so long after our fight and I just… I was scared our last conversation would be that stupid fight. And then you had to go and sacrifice yourself for Vycious!” 

Reni groans, closing her eyes again. “Sorry, Ali.”

“Don’t,” Alina says softly. “Don’t apologize. You were tortured… for two weeks. So just don’t waste your energy on apologies for just being your normal heroic self.”

Reni sees Nalia walk up behind Alina, looking like Lady Death herself. Her anger sparks off her with her magic. Her deadly gaze is set on Alina. 

“Don’t you have better things to do than talk to a lowly guard, Princess?” Nalia asks, glaring at Alina. 

Alina scoffs. “Reni isn’t just anyone,” she says, gently squeezing Reni’s hand. “She’s been my best friend since we were little. She was my personal guard for years. She’s also a princess herself. So no, I don’t have better things to do.”

Nalia’s fingers twitch. She looks moments away from summoning crystals in Alina’s bloodstream. Reni squeezes Alina’s hand.

“Ali, give us a moment,” Reni whispers. 

Alina scoffs, grits her teeth, and stands up. She walks away, her boots echoing out of the infirmary. Nalia sits on the edge of Reni’s infirmary cot and rests her hand on Reni’s thigh.

“Hey, Reni,” she says, her expression softening as soon as Alina is out of sight.

“My savior,” Reni smiles, resting her hand atop Nalia’s. “How long have I been out?”

“Four days. Princess Prissy-Face kicked me out a day ago and hasn’t let me back in to be with you,” Nalia grumbles. “I was the one who saved you. I sat with you as Marska and her assistants were trying to heal your back to the best of their abilities. I stayed at your side for three days and nights and she just kicked me out like I’m not important enough for you.”

Reni frowns, linking her fingers with Nalia’s. “I’m sorry, Nals,” Reni mumbles, brushing her thumb back and forth over Nalia’s knuckles. “Your feud with each other has to stop.”

“Tell her that, not me.”

Reni rests her head back against the pillows, staring up at the ceiling mural. Tracing the painted stories of the first five rulers of Herbin over and over again. 

“You can’t blame it all on her, Nalia.”

“Gods above, Reni,” Nalia sighs, squeezing Reni’s hand. “She didn’t notice you were gone until three days after Vycious returned! She just happened to overhear a couple guards gossiping about you not returning. She’s so self centered she didn’t notice you were gone! How can you even imply that I’m half as bad at her!”

“We were fighting it’s not—”

“That’s no damn excuse! Reni, open your eyes! She doesn’t care about you!”

“Fuck you, Nalia! That’s bullshit and you know it!”

Alina pops back into the little room in the infirmary where Reni has been healing for the past four days. 

“Is everything…” Alina trails off, a small smirk on her lips as Nalia gets up and storms out of the room, slamming the door behind her. “You okay?”

Reni groans, rubbing her eyes. “Yeah, just peachy Ali.”

Alina stands next to the bed, stroking the backs of her fingers down the side of Reni’s face. “Marska said she’d be okay with moving you up to my chambers,” Alina murmurs, her fingers stopping at Reni’s chin, tilting it up so Reni looks her in the eyes. “If you’re okay with that, of course.”

Reni nods, her eyes growing heavy again. “Sounds good, Ali,” she whispers, her eyes closing and she falls back asleep.

Notes:

Author's Note: Hello again! It’s been a minute. I have some big projects I just started for school but I’ll be trying to get a few more chapters out in the next few weeks.
Sincerely,
Archz
(1676 Words)

Chapter 14: Eleven

“Reni Vel!” Alina shouts, grabbing the sword from Reni’s hands and shoving it into the arms of a nearby guard. “You know you’re not supposed to be training yet!”

Reni groans, vaguely gesturing around. “I’m fine! See? Perfectly—ow. Fuck,” she hisses, grabbing her side for a moment. 

“Come on,” Alina says, grabbing Reni’s arm and pulling her over to a wooden bench. “Sit.”

“Don’t boss me—”

Alina motions for Reni to shut her mouth. “You can’t just run away from me and definitely not from Marska and her assistants. You’ve been back for a week! You aren’t supposed to be on your feet like this, let alone train!” 

“For once,” Nalia says, crossing her arms over her chest as she approaches, “we agree.”

Alina curtly nods at Nalia. “Thank you, Archmage.”

Nalia rolls her eyes. “Come on, Reni. I need you for something,” she says, helping Reni to her feet and wrapping one of Reni’s arms around her shoulders. 

“What are you—” Alina starts only to be cut off by a deadly glare from Nalia. 

“I will return her later, Princess .”

Alina frowns, suppressing a pout as she watches Reni walk away with Nalia.

Nalia helps Reni into her Archmage’s chambers, sitting Reni down on a comfortable couch. Nalia sits down next to her, pressing her face into Reni’s collarbone. She shakily inhales, one hand tracing lazy patterns over Reni’s arm and chest and stomach while the other wraps around Reni’s back. 

“Did you drag me all the way up here just to hold me?” Reni asks softly, leaning her head back on the couch, glancing at Nalia out of the corner of her eye.

“I dragged you all the way up here to keep you from hurting yourself and to give you a break from Princess Prissy-Face,” Nalia mumbles. 

Nalia presses a gentle kiss to Reni’s collarbone, coaxing a strangled gasp from Reni’s lips. Nalia hums, glancing up at Reni over the tops of her glasses. 

“Princess Prissy-Face? Really Nalia?” Reni asks once she regulates her breathing.

“What? You know I’m right.”

Nalia grins, her hand tracing down Reni’s side with a feather-like touch. She presses another kiss to Reni’s collarbone, lingering this time and using her tongue.

“Nalia-” Reni gasps, tensing under her touch. She sucks in a sharp breath as Nalia’s hand brushes over sensitive spots. “Someone is going to walk in.”

“I locked the door, Reni,” Nalia murmurs.

Reni’s breath hitches, and her mind struggles to come up with a logical argument. “That still doesn’t change the fact that-” she cuts off with a soft whine as Nalia’s hand dips beneath her shirt.

“Reni,” Nalia says, pulling back slightly to look Reni in the eyes, “stop being the Captain right now. You’re injured, you’re recovering from torture, you aren’t the Captain for the time being so stop trying to be.”

Reni swallows hard, her expression wavering under Nalia’s gaze. She hates when Nalia is right. She closes her eyes, forcing herself to exhale slowly, to keep her breathing even. 

“Okay,” Reni whispers, almost to herself more than Nalia, “ okay .”

“Good,” Nalia murmurs. 

Nalia gently eases Reni onto her back, one hand slipping under Reni’s shirt. Her touch is soft and light as she gently massages Reni’s skin and muscle, slowly moving down Reni’s abdomen. She treads as gently as possible over the bandages wrapped around Reni’s lower torso. 

Reni tenses, biting back a hiss of pain as Nalia’s hand brushes over the bandages. “Sorry, sorry,” Nalia says hastily, lifting her hands away, “are you—“  

“No, don’t stop,” Reni interrupts, reaching up and wrapping her fingers around one of Nalia’s wrists and bringing it back down. “Keep going.”

Nalia’s eyes widened. She paused for a moment longer before gently continuing to ease the tension from Reni’s body. She works her hand over the less tender areas, taking care to avoid hurting Reni. She slowly pulls Reni’s shirt up, pausing for a moment to press a series of gentle kisses to her upper stomach.

Reni’s breath hitches, her muscles twitching under the combination of Nalia’s soft touch and the kisses she placed atop her bandages. She lets her eyes close, her body slowly relaxing. Her hand loosens on Nalia’s wrist as she lets herself melt into the couch.

Nalia’s fingertips trail up Reni’s ribs, drawing aimless patterns on Reni’s skin. She leans over, pressing her lips to the underside of Reni’s jaw, pausing once or twice to kiss a particularly sensitive spot. Her fingernails lightly scratch Reni’s skin, leaving faint red lines behind.

“The Princess has kept you from me for two weeks,” Nalia murmurs into Reni’s neck.

Reni lets out a quiet whine, tilting her head back to give Nalia more room to play. She feels like she’s melting at Nalia’s touch. 

“That doesn’t… mean you… need to… act this possessive,” Reni mumbles, her words broken up by soft gasps.

“You’re my captain.”

“I’m— augh —I’m everybody’s captain.”

“Yes, but you were mine first,” Nalia says, making a particularly harsh mark on Reni’s throat as her hand dips down, sliding between Reni’s thighs.

Reni’s breath hitches, her back arching off the couch. She lets out a soft moan, pressing herself into Nalia’s touch. “Nalia,” she breathes, her eyes fluttering shut as she focuses on the feeling of Nalia’s nails running down the inside of her thigh. “Nalia, we’ve never—”

“We’ve never what?” Nalia asks, her fingers tracing lazy shapes on Reni’s skin. “Never had sex?” 

Nalia brushes her lips over the sensitive skin of Reni’s neck before nipping lightly.

Reni lets out a low whine, her body twitching from the mix of pain and pleasure. “You know what I mean,” Reni huffs, her words broken up by a gasp as Nalia’s hand squeezes her hip.

“I do,” Nalia confirms, her fingers teasingly dancing at the edge of Reni’s trousers. “What if I want to change that?” 

Nalia kisses Reni’s collarbone. “You have to know something…” Reni murmurs, forcing her eyes open as she sits up a bit. “Something about what Plantatos did to me while she held me captive.”

Nalia pulls back, her gaze falling to where Reni’s shirt is ridden up to expose her bandaged torso. She frowns, gently tracing the edge of the bandages with a finger. “What did she do?”

“Besides the um… obvious,” Reni murmurs, gesturing to her numerous bandages all over her body. “She did… other things.”

“What kinds of things?” Nalia asks gently, her frown deepening as her hand drifts back down to Reni’s hip.

Reni looks away, shame bubbling up her throat. “She... um... raped me.”

Nalia goes completely still, her eyes widening as her hand freezes. “Oh, Reni…” she whispers, her voice cracking as she finally puts the pieces together. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“What was I supposed to say?” Reni snaps, glaring at Nalia. “‘The Great Captain Vel was captured, tortured, and raped by a fucking pirate captain?’”

“Yes!” Nalia shouts, her hand gripping Reni’s hip almost painfully. “You could have told me that before I started pawing at the scars on your body and trying to be all romantic!”

Reni flinches at the sharpness of Nalia’s voice but doesn’t back down. “I didn’t… want you to think less of me because of what happened,” Reni whispers, her gaze dropping away from Nalia’s.

“Gods above, Reni,” Nalia whispers, cupping Reni’s cheeks in her hands. “I could never think less of you.”

Reni’s lower lip quivers, tears quickly forming in the corners of her eyes, despite her efforts to keep them away. She lets herself lean into Nalia’s touch, closing her eyes tightly as a few tears escape down her cheeks. 

“It… it happened more than once. She made me... over and over... I...” 

It’s her greatest shame, the way she’d given herself to her captor.

Nalia’s breath hitches, tears beginning to form in her own eyes. It’s almost painful to hear the way Reni’s voice breaks, to see the shame that clouds her eyes. Nalia gently pulls Reni closer, letting Reni bury her face in her shoulder.

“I’ve got you,” she whispers, her hand running through Reni’s hair. “You’re safe now. You’re home . And I’ve got you.”

Reni shakes silently, hot tears beginning to soak into Nalia’s clothing. She buries her face into Nalia’s neck, her hands gripping the fabric of Nalia’s robes far tighter than necessary. 

“I’m… I’m sorry,” Reni whimpers, her whole body beginning to tremble.

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Nalia gently admonishes, pressing a kiss to the top of Reni’s head. She rubs Reni’s back with one hand, continuing to run her fingers through Reni’s hair with the other. “Don’t you dare try to apologize to me, you understand?”

“Yes ma’am,” Reni murmurs, gently kissing Nalia’s neck. “Let’s just…take things slowly. Please.”

“Of course, Reni,” Nalia says, gently smiling at Reni.

Reni maneuvers them so she straddles Nalia’s hips as she lays flat on the couch, a few pillows propped up behind her head. She undoes the clasp of Naila’s main robe and pulls the sleeves off, letting the robe rest under Nalia. Reni slides her hands up, under Naila’s undershirt, and over the slight bump of her stomach. 

Nalia groans, pressing her head back against the pillows, her eyes pressed tightly closed. “Reni,” Nalia whimpers, “what happened to going slow?”

Reni just smiles, pulling the undershirt up, over her head. Reni leans down, gently kissing Naila’s collarbone and neck in places easily covered by her robes, her hands wandering up and down Nalia’s sides. Her fingers tease the hem of Naila’s chest binder, earing Reni and quiet gasp.

Nalia’s hands grip the cushions of her couch. She arches up into Reni, gasping again as Reni’s fingers find an old scar set into the skin of her left side. Nalia’s magic flares for a moment, making Reni’s skin tingle and her body shiver. 

“You okay?” Reni whispers, pulling an inch up just to look Nalia in the eyes. 

Nalia nods, embarrassment flushing her cheeks and neck. “Fine, it’s just…sensitive.” 

Reni nods, moving to softly kiss the scar. Nalia whimpers again, one hand flying up to tangle into Reni’s hair, holding her where she is. 

“Please keep doing that,” Nalia says, her hand relaxing on the back of Reni’s head. 

Reni gently kisses along the scar. She can taste the residue of the lightning magic that caused the snaking scar. Reni hums against Nalia’s skin, hands rubbing Nalia’s hips and sides and across her stomach. 

Once every little lightning shaped tendril has been kissed, Reni moves back up to kissing Nalia’s collarbone. She quickly travels up Nalia’s neck, pausing for a moment before kissing Nalia’s lips. 

Mid hum, Nalia groans. Reni’s knee presses between Nalia’s thighs, subtly moving up and down. Nalia moans into the kiss, both hands wrapping around Reni’s lower back. 

Reni toys with the hem of Nalia’s trousers, slipping her fingers in after a moment. She rubs her middle and ring finger over Nalia’s underwear.

“Are you enjoying this?” Reni asks incredulously, pressing a little against Nalia’s damp underwear.

Nalia squirms, her soft whimpers and moans muffled by one arm pressed over her mouth. Reni slips her fingers under Nalia’s underwear, gently rubbing over Nalia’s clit and down to her vulva. 

“ Reni ,” Nalia whimpers, spreading her legs a little wider. 

“Yes, Nals?” Reni asks, barely putting any pressure as she moves her fingers up and down. 

“Don’t tease me, please ,” Nalia begs, arching up into Reni’s touch, trying to get more pressure. 

Reni grins but obliges, slipping her middle and ring finger into Nalia’s vagina, pressing her thumb against Nalia’s clit. Reni moves her thumb in slow, gentle circles as she moves her fingers up and down. 

“Gods above, Reni ,” Nalia moans, gripping the couch cushions harder. 

Reni moves faster, watching as Nalia closes her eyes, soft moans escaping her as she arches up against Reni’s hand. 

“Please, please .”

“Please what?” Reni asks, slowing slightly.

Nalia groans, one hand reaching up to grip Reni’s hair with one hand. Nalia pulls Reni’s hair, making Reni look up at her. “What did I just say? Do not tease me, Reni Vel.”

Nalia’s magic flares off her in little sparks Reni is sure that not even Nalia herself knows about. Reni smiles, speeding up again. 

Nalia tightens her grip on Reni’s hair. Heaving as she clamps down on Reni’s fingers. 

Reni’s grin only spreads as she watches Nalia’s face screw up in pleasure, the way her thighs shake, and the way she whimpers and moans and arches into Reni’s touch. 

“Reni, please,” Nalia breathes, “faster.”

Reni obeys, curling her fingers to hit one particular spot. Reni’s own hips twitch as Nalia’s magic runs over her skin. A quiet moan escapes Reni’s own mouth as Nalia’s magic tingles along her spine.

Nalia’s whole body trembles, her head thrown back.

A light knock against the heavy wooden door of Nalia’s office is barely heard over their panting breaths. Reni pulls back and looks over her shoulder at the door, a slight frown on her face. 

“I’m busy,” Nalia shouts, annoyance clear in her voice.

"Why is this gods damned door locked?" Alina shouts, banging on it again. "I need Reni!"

Reni curls her fingers in Nalia, making her shake. Reni kisses Nalia to mute her moans. 

Nalia moans into the kiss, her whole body trembling and her grip on Reni’s hair tightening as her climax washes over her. She slumps back against the couch, her chest heaving, as Reni pulls back, gently removing her fingers. Nalia whines softly at the empty feeling, her eyes barely open. The door bangs again, jolting Nalia’s attention back to it.

Reni sucks her fingers clean, carefully getting off Nalia and fixing her clothes and hair. She goes up to the door, unlocking and opening it.

As soon as Reni opens the door, Alina pushes through the door, barely pausing as she begins speaking. 

“There you are,” she says, “I need you for—”

Alina pauses, her eyes widening as she finally glances towards the couch where Nalia is still sprawled on the couch, her hair a mess and her cheeks flushed.

“You need me for?”

“I—” Alina’s voice tapers off, her gaze flickering between Reni standing by the door and Nalia on that couch. 

Alina’s eyes narrow a bit as she notices all the little signs of what had been going on. The flushed faces, the messy hair, the slightly wrinkled and disheveled clothes.

“Is something the matter—” Reni starts, only to be cut off by a sharp slap across her face.

Reni’s head shoots to the side. Her hand flies to touch her cheek. Nalia sits up, her eyes wide as her gaze flutters between Alina and Reni.

“Did you just slap me?” Reni asks incredulously. 

“I—” Alina seems just as surprised that she slapped Reni as Reni is that she was slapped. She opens and closes her mouth, looking like she doesn’t know what to say. 

“You’re supposed to be recovering right now!” Alina finally sputters out. “Nalia was supposed to be taking care of you, not—”

Alina gestures wildly at the couch.

Reni bristles as Alina keeps talking, her expression transforming from surprised to a mixture of anger and hurt. “And how is that any of your concern?”

Alina frowns at Reni’s tone but continues on, “It is my business because you’re my Captain, I can’t have you going off and getting—”

" Yours ?" Reni interrupts, her hands balling up into fists at her sides. "I’m not yours ! Dead below , I’m not either of yours! I don’t belong to anyone!”

Nalia winces, knowing that Reni’s words are the product of the torture she endured and not necessarily how she feels. It still hurts to hear, but Nalia keeps her mouth shut. 

Alina’s glare hardens, the anger coming off her in waves. “You do belong to me. And Nalia isn’t supposed to be distracting you like this. You’re supposed to be resting .”

Nalia’s eyes widen in horror. “Alina, maybe you shouldn’t—”

"Don’t try to defend her," Alina snaps at Nalia, her gaze never leaving Reni’s. 

Reni’s hands clench tighter into fists, her eyes flashing with anger. “I belong to no one. I am not some plaything for you to use as you see fit,” she hisses, her body tensing.

As her anger builds, the only thing Reni can see when she looks at Alina is Plantatos’ face as she was torturing her. How Plantatos made Reni into her puppet. 

“Yes, yes you are,” Alina cuts Reni off, taking another step towards her. 

“Alina!” Nalia’s voice is sharp and cutting, catching Alina off-guard and finally making her attention snap over to Nalia. “Stop.”

“Why?” Alina demands, her anger still directed towards Reni but her attention on Nalia. 

Nalia steps forward, moving to stand between Alina and Reni. “Because you’re not thinking straight. And because you are hurting her,” Nalia says, gesturing behind her to Reni.

Nalia gingerly steps between Reni and Alina, slowly reaching to rest her hands on Reni’s shoulders. “Reni, look at me,” she whispers. “Look at me. There . You’re home Reni. You’re home and you’re safe. She can’t hurt you anymore.”

Reni’s knees give out and she starts to sob, pressing her face into Nalia’s thigh.

Nalia wraps her arms around Reni, gently pulling her close. She closes her eyes, gently stroking Reni’s hair and rubbing her back. 

Alina stares at the two of them, the anger slowly fading from her expression to be replaced by guilt. She takes a tentative step forward, reaching out to touch Reni before drawing her hand back before her fingers can brush against Reni’s shoulder.

“You didn’t see what she was like,” Nalia says, glancing up at Alina, “when I got there to save her. You only saw what she was like when I brought her back.”

Reni presses her face further into Nalia’s thigh, the sobs wracking her body making it hard to breathe. 

Alina watches the two of them, a guilty expression on her face. Her hand slowly comes up again, gently touching Reni’s shoulder. 

“I-” Alina starts, her voice catching in her throat. “I’m sorry.”

Reni shifts, burying her face into Alina’s stomach instead, accidently tackling Alina into a sitting position instead of crouching.

Alina startles as she lands on her ass, barely catching herself on one of her hands. She looks down at Reni for a moment as Reni presses her face into Alina’s abdomen. Alina gently threads her fingers through Reni’s hair, biting her lower lip.

“What…” Alina starts, glancing over at Nalia before lowering her voice a touch. “What happened? I mean, I know about the torture. Marska told me all about taking care of the wounds.”

Nalia sighs softly, gently rubbing Reni’s back. “The torture...was horrible, obviously,” Nalia starts, picking her words carefully. “But the worst part... Plantatos made Reni… hers . She made Reni into her pet .”

Alina’s eyes widen, her hand stilling in Reni’s hair and her fingers tightening. “What do you mean, she made Reni her pet ?”

“I mean , Plantatos screwed with Reni’s head so much that she had Reni believing she was Reni’s hero. She got Reni to believe that Plantatos loved her. Alina,” Nalia sighs, swallowing her discomfort from the memories, “it was bad .”

Alina is silent for a moment, her eyes still wide as the full impact of what Nalia said hits her. “She really brainwashed her that thoroughly?” Alina questions softly. “It was only two weeks. Two weeks and Plantatos broke my Reni that much?”

The way she says ’my’ this time isn’t possessive like it was before, instead it harbors years of friendship.

Nalia nods slowly, her hands still gently rubbing Reni’s back as she continues to sob. “She did. Reni’s mind was so completely under her control that she… she did anything Plantatos told her to do. Reni loved her. She worshipped her. Reni didn’t even recognize me when I found her,” Nalia says. “Dead below, I doubt she would have recognized you , Alina.”

Fresh guilt twists Alina’s gut as she registers Nalia’s words. She reaches out with her free hand, gently cupping Reni’s chin to try and get Reni to look up.

“Reni? Reni, honey, look at me?” Alina asks, her voice soft and gentle.

Reni slowly looks up, her broken expression so far from what Alina knows from Reni. Reni is supposed to be strong, confident, fearless. Alina has never seen Reni cry. But now? Now Reni is different. Broken. And it’s partially her fault.

Alina carefully pulls Reni up into her lap, wrapping her arms around Reni tightly. She gently cups the back of Reni’s head, softly cradling her and holding her against her chest. Reni just whimpers, pressing her face into Alina’s chest and clinging to her tightly. 

“I’m sorry,” Alina whispers, resting her chin on top of Reni’s head. “I’m so, so sorry.”

Notes:

Author's Note: Hello everyone! I’m back! I’ve finished midterms and I’ll hopefully be back to posting more regularly.
Sincerely,
Archz
(3471 Words)

Chapter 15: Twelve

It’s been a week since Alina discovered what Reni really went through when she was captured by Plantatos. Alina has barely let Reni out of her sight, especially since she discovered Reni and Nalia’s little episode together.

Alina twirls for Reni, showing off her silver gown for the ball Alina is insisting on dragging Reni to. “What do you think?” Alina asks as she pauses, watching Reni fix her dress uniform, all her pins perfectly aligned like nothing is wrong with her.

Reni pauses her fixing, looking up at Alina and taking a moment to fully appreciate the silver gown that had been so masterfully tailored for Alina. 

“You look… really good,” Reni murmurs, straightening herself slightly. “I wish I could say the same for my uniform. I feel weird without a sword.”

Reni’s fingers absently trace the empty spot at her hip, her eyes distant and her body tense.

“You don’t get that thing until Marska clears you for duty,” Alina says, crossing her arms over her chest.

Reni’s expression turns annoyed at that comment, her hands balling up into tight fists before she takes a slow, deep breath. “I’m fine,” she insists though her words sound far from sincere. “I don’t need Marska to clear me.”

Alina raises an eyebrow, walking over to Reni and pressing the still healing wound on Reni’s side. Reni flinches, groaning and swatting at Alina’s hand. 

“You are not fine, Reni Vel,” Alina says simply, cupping her cheek over Reni’s cheek, brushing away some kohl that smudged. 

Reni closes her eyes at the touch, letting out another soft groan. She leans into Alina’s hand as her shoulders rise and fall with her deep, slow breathing. 

“I feel fine,” Reni mutters, slowly opening her eyes again. “I’m healing. There’s no need to keep babying me.”

“You can’t sleep on your own. Every time you wake up without me in my bed, you have a panic attack. You haven’t even tried sleeping in your own bed since you got back,” Alina sighs, pinching her brow. “Reni, I’m not babying you. I’m just... worried.”

Reni’s body tenses at that, eyes narrowing and her expression becoming stubborn and defiant. “And you think forcing me to come to this... stupid ball is going to make things better? Forcing me to be stared at by a bunch of stuck-up nobles?”

“You want to get back to normal, right Reni?” Alina snaps. “This is how. This is the reality right now. You don’t get to train, you don’t get your sword, you shouldn’t even be dancing but here I am, letting you do something that Marska isn’t sure your body can handle yet.”

Reni bristles, her eyes narrowing even further at Alina’s sharp tone. She takes a step back, her hands balling up into tight fists.

“You’re letting me do something? You’re letting me?”  Reni laughs, the sound sharp and bitter. “And I suppose I’m not allowed to do anything without your permission , right? I’m just supposed to be a good little puppet and do what you tell me?”

“Reni,” Alina says, her voice softening. “I’m sorry, Reni. I didn’t mean it like that. I’m sorry.”

Reni’s still bristling, her expression still stubborn and annoyed. But something in Alina’s tone causes Reni to relax a bit, her clenched fists slowly unclenching as her shoulders lose some of their tension.

“I can take care of myself, you know,” Reni mutters, glancing away from Alina’s gaze. “I don’t need you to look over me constantly.”

Alina steps up to Reni, cupping her cheek again and coaxing Reni to look at her. “I know you can take care of yourself. I’m sorry that I’m being overbearing right now. You were hurt. You are hurt. That scares me, okay?”

Reni relaxes, her eyes falling closed as Alina gently guides her chin up. She leans into the touch, letting out a soft sigh.

“I’m fine,” Reni protests weakly. “I’m healing up just fine. I’ll be back to kicking ass again in no time.”

“I don’t doubt that,” Alina murmurs.

Reni leans a bit further into Alina, letting out a soft, shaky sigh. “You’re not going to let me get out of going to the ball, are you?” She asks, her voice soft and resigned.

“Not at all.”

 

– – – – –

 

Reni’s arm is linked with Alina’s as they walk through the large doors into Herbin’s grand ballroom. 

Almost immediately a prince from some menial duchy walks up to them. “Princess Alina, could you not find a date?” He asks, a large smile spread across his lips. 

Reni stiffens a bit at the comment, eyeing the Prince with an irritation that’s impossible to hide. Alina quickly picks up on it and her hand tightens around Reni’s arm.

Alina smiles politely at the man. “Captain Vel is my date.”

The Prince’s gaze flicks over Reni, the dismissive look he gives her as his gaze scans her making Reni tense further.

“Forgive me, I didn’t mean to offend you,” he says, his attention shifting back to Alina. “I merely found it strange that a Princess would have no one better than a measly guard as a date.”

“You should pay attention to names, little boy,” Reni says calmly, gritting her teeth. “I am Captain Reni Vel, first born child of the Duke of Arivel. You will treat me with respect.”

The arrogant smirk on the Prince’s face falters a bit as he glances back at Reni, his eyes narrowing as he actually takes her in.

“You… you’re a Vel ?” he questions, his arrogance disappearing to be replaced by what looks suspiciously like discomfort.

“Yes.”

The Prince looks suddenly unsure in himself, his gaze dropping to the floor as he struggles with himself. “I… my apologies, Captain… I didn’t know- I… I should go,” he mutters, turning and quickly disappearing into the crowd of people that fill the ballroom.

Alina watches him flee with an unreadable expression, but a slight look of disgust on her face. She shakes her head slightly and looks back at Reni. “I don’t know why that little prick has never bothered to learn his nobles,” she mutters. “You were ready to deck him, weren’t you?”

“I’m sure you wouldn’t appreciate it if I did.”

“You’re right. I wouldn’t. So you’d better play nice,” Alina says, gently tugging Reni away from the main dance floor.

Alina leads Reni out onto a balcony, the open air a welcome break from the stifling ballroom. The evening air is warm, carrying a gentle breeze and the subtle scent of distant wildflowers.

“I thought you were going to make me dance and mingle all night, Ali.”

Alina stops at the edge of the balcony, leaning in the railing. She glances over her shoulder with a slight smirk.

“Oh don’t worry. I fully intend on making you suffer through some dancing. I just wanted a moment alone with you first.”

“Oh, of course,” Reni mumbles.

Alina leans one hip on the railing, facing Reni. There’s a hint of worry in her eyes as her gaze runs over Reni’s face.

“I just… how’s your side?” She asks, her gaze dropping to Reni’s stomach.

“Hurts.”

“A lot?” Alina’s voice is full of concern, and her gaze flicks back up to Reni’s face, taking in her stiff and guarded expression.

“I know we just got here but,” Reni looks away for a moment, “but can we go back to your room? Please?”

Alina nods quickly, pushing herself away from the railing. 

“Of course, we can go back. But first,” she reaches out, placing a hand on Reni’s chin and gently turning Reni back to look at her, “I want to ask you something. Before we leave, will you… at least dance with me once?”

Alina gently rests her palm on the small of Reni’s back, pulling her in a bit closer, their bodies barely touching.

“One dance,” Reni murmurs.

Alina smiles at that, gently pulling Reni into her so they’re pressed more closely together.

“Just one. That’s all I’m asking for,” Alina says as she begins to lead Reni in a slow, swaying dance.

“Normally you’d be begging to do it where everyone would see.”

“Normally, yes. But you’re hurt, so I’m cutting you some slack today.”

Alina hums softly as they spin slowly together, the music from inside the ballroom spilling out from the open doors and onto the balcony.

Reni rests her head on Alina’s shoulder as they dance. She sighs, closing her eyes.

Alina gently holds Reni closer, gently stroking her shoulder and back with one hand.

“You alright?” She asks, her voice soft as they continue to slowly dance together.

Reni nods, humming softly. “I’m great.”

Alina shifts, pulling Reni a bit closer and gently burying her face in Reni’s hair.

“You’re not lying to me, are you?” Alina mumbles, her voice muffled by Reni’s hair.

“I wouldn’t dare.”

Alina falls silent for a moment, a small huff escaping her lips as she gently buries her face in Reni’s hair. Her grip tightens on Reni, one of her hands coming up to curl in Reni’s hair. “I’m scared, Reni,” she murmurs, her voice nearly inaudible.

“Of?”

“Of what Plantatos did to you. Of how you’ve changed. She broke you, Re. Plantatos broke you and now you aren’t my strong, fearless best friend. I’d never seen you cry up until a week ago,” Alina trails off, coaxing Reni to look up at her. “I’m scared I won’t get you back.”

Reni’s eyes widen at Alina’s words, her body growing stiff. She takes a half step back, trying to push away from Alina’s hold on her. “Alina, I—”

Alina doesn’t let her get away, her grip tightening and her other hand coming up to cup Reni’s cheek and force Reni to face her.

“Don’t,” Alina commands. “Don’t you dare run from me.”

Reni’s expression crumbles, guilt and pain crossing her face as she’s forced to face Alina. She desperately tries to force away the tears threatening to spill from her eyes, as she clenches her fists at her sides.

“Ali… stop…” Reni stammers.

“Stop what, Re?”

Reni shakes her head, her body shaking. She tries to duck her head, to hide her face again, but Alina won’t let her.

“All of this. Stop it,” she whispers. “Stop trying to force me into being me again. You can’t just snap your fingers and expect me to be fine.”

“That’s not what I’m trying to do, Reni,” Alina says, stepping closer to Reni again, pressing her forehead against Reni’s. “I’m just trying to… I’m trying to tell you how much I care.”

Reni closes her eyes, letting out a shaky breath as Alina gently presses her forehead against her’s. She presses closer, seeking the comfort of Alina’s proximity.

“I… I know you are. But you’re also making me feel so damn guilty by doing it,” she whispers.

“I’m sorry,” Alina murmurs, “I’m not trying to.”

Reni lets out a shaky breath, finally opening her eyes again and looking up at Alina. Her expression is a painful mix of guilt and sadness. “You may not be trying to, but you are,” She says, her voice cracking. “I feel like I’m constantly disappointing you by not just snapping out of it.”

“That’s not... oh Reni... I’m so sorry.”

“How can you not be disappointed? I’m a mess, I can’t keep control of my feelings, and every day is a struggle to just get through,” Reni’s body shakes with barely suppressed emotions. “You’re just waiting for me to pull myself together, but it’s not going to happen. I… I’m broken, Ali.”

“I’ll fix you. I’ll make you better. We’ll take it slow, yeah?”

Reni lets out a shaky breath, reaching up to grasp the front of Alina’s dress. She presses her face into Alina’s chest, her body still trembling but growing steadier the better she holds on to Alina.

“Promise me something,” Reni mumbles, her voice muffled against Alina’s dress.

“Anything, darling.”

Reni’s grip on Alina’s dress tightens, and she doesn’t even try to hide the desperate hitch in her voice as she speaks. “Promise me that you’re not going to leave me.”

“Of course,” Alina says, kissing Reni’s forehead. “Now let’s get you back to my room, yeah?”

Reni nods, letting Alina pull her back into the ball, through the crowd. Alina ignores calls and comments from nobles trying to pull her into dances and conversations, solely focused on getting out of the ballroom and back up to her chambers.

There are whispers and stares and stares as Alina leads Reni out of the ballroom and up the stairs to her room. More than a few nobles exchange whispered comments and disapproving looks amongst each other, but Alina ignores them all. 

Finally, they reach the door to Alina’s room, and Alina is quick to pull Reni inside and shut the door behind them.

“Do you want a bath?” Alina asks after locking her door.

Reni leans heavily against the door, letting out a shaky breath. “Yes,” she murmurs, her eyes trained on the floor and refusing to look at Alina.

Alina frowns but doesn’t comment, simply pulling Reni into the bathing room. Alina sits Reni down on a chair to wait while she fills the tub. 

A moment passes before Alina turns back around, the sound of warm water filling the tub is the only sound as she unbuttons the jacket of Reni’s dress uniform.

Reni sits in the chair, letting Alina unbutton her jacket without protest or complaint. She’s unnaturally quiet, her expression blank. Her whole body tenses as Alina pushes the jacket off of Reni’s shoulders and tugs it off, exposing Reni’s thin undershirt.

Alina rests the jacket on the back of the chair before pulling Reni’s undershirt off. “Stand up,” Alina says softly.

Reni hesitates for a moment, her eyes still on the floor, but she does as Alina asks and slowly stands up. 

Alina moves to unbutton Reni’s pants but pauses. “Can I?”

Reni nods, her hands clenched tight into fists as she keeps her gaze stubbornly glued to the floor.

Alina unbuttons Reni’s pants, gently sliding them down to the floor so Reni can step out of them. Alina lets her fingers linger on Reni’s skin as she moves up to Reni’s chest binder, carefully unwrapping it. Once the chest binder is off and in a pile with Reni’s trousers and undershirt, Alina slides Reni’s underwear off and adds them to the pile. 

The bandages around Reni’s side and back take a little more time to coax off. Alina tries her hardest not to hurt Reni as she carefully discards the bandages.

Alina helps Reni over to the tub and into the bath. She lets the tub fill a little longer before turning off the water and pulling over a stool to sit on. 

Gently, Alina combs water through Reni’s hair to prepare for soap. She cleans Reni’s hair slowly, massaging Reni’s scalp to help her relax. 

Reni’s entire body slowly relaxes as Alina washes her hair, leaning back into Alina’s fingers. She keeps her eyes stubbornly closed, focusing on the soothing sensation of Alina’s fingers. When Alina starts to slowly wash Reni’s body, Reni lets out a soft sound of quiet comfort.

“You haven’t looked at me since we got to my chambers,” Alina whispers, pressing a soft kiss to Reni’s damp hair. 

Reni tenses slightly, her eyes opening part way as Alina’s words wash over her. Her expression becomes guarded, and she keeps her gaze off to the side, refusing to look at Alina. “I know,” she mumbles, her voice barely audible over the sound of the water sloshing.

“Why, Re?”

Reni hesitates for a moment, her shoulders tensing. She keeps her gaze firmly off of Alina, her expression hard and stubborn. “I…” her voice breaks, and her shoulders deflate as she sighs. “If I look at you, I’m scared I’ll start crying.”

“Crying is okay, Re,” Alina murmurs, kissing the top of Reni’s head again.

Reni’s shoulders start shaking, and she presses her face into Alina’s hand as it comes to rest on her head. She lets out a half-stifled whimper, her body trembling with the effort to hold back her tears. “It’s not. It’s not okay. You’ll… you’ll be disappointed.”

“I could never be disappointed with you, okay? I’m so proud of you. I’m so proud of my best friend.”

Those words, those simple words, are what break Reni. The trembling gets worse, so much worse, and Reni lets out a strangled, heartbreaking sob. Hot tears well up in her eyes, and a wave of deep, agonizing emotions wash over her. “Ali,” she whimpers, her voice breaking. “It hurts . It hurts so much….”

“I know Re,” Alina says, setting the cloth she’d been using to clean Reni to the side. “I know. I’ve got you.”

Alina wraps her arms around Reni, not caring that her beautiful silver dress is getting wet.

Reni practically clings to Alina, gripping at her like a lifeline as broken, strangled sobs rack through her body. She buries her face in Alina’s shoulder, her whole body shaking as a wall of emotion that she’s held back for so long finally collapses. “Ali,” she whimpers, her fingers clenching Alina’s dress in tight fists, as if afraid that if she doesn’t, Alina will disappear.

“I’m right here. I’m here. I’m not leaving.”

“Promise?” Reni’s voice is barely audible over the quiet sobs that are still wracking through her body, and her voice sounds absolutely broken.

“I promise, with all my heart.”

Reni’s whole body trembles as more strangled sobs wrack through her body. She presses her face closer into Alina’s shoulder, shaking her head softly.

A few moments pass, and Reni’s shaking slowly relaxes, her body growing tired in Alina’s hold. When she does speak, her voice is strained and raw, and she’s still clinging tight to Alina. “Please… don’t go. Not yet. Please. Don’t make me let go yet…”

“We can stay as long as you want, Re.”

Reni stays quiet, her body trembling against Alina as she slowly starts to relax. Her grip loosens a bit, though she’s still holding on tightly to Alina. Her sobs slowly fade, but Reni still presses her face into Alina’s chest. 

She stays like that for a long moment, letting the soothing, warm water from the bath soothe her. Finally, Reni speaks, her voice rough and quiet.

“Can I… ask you something….?”

“Of course you can.”

Reni hesitates, her fingers tracing patterns on Alina’s skin. Her whole body still trembling a bit, her whole being still shaken from the emotional outburst. 

It takes her a few moments to gather her thoughts enough to speak again. “How… how much do you hate me right now?”

“On a scale from one to ten, negative infinity,” Alina murmurs.

Reni is quiet for a moment, her eyes falling closed and a soft sigh escaping her. When she speaks again, her voice is a trembling, broken whisper.  “Don’t lie. I know you hate… what I’ve become.”

“No, I hate the reason you’re like this, not that you’re like this.”

Reni’s whole body trembles again, a quiet sob escaping her lips. Tears prick at her eyes once more. “I hate it too. I hate being so weak. I hate having to rely on you so much. I hate relying on you to comfort me. I hate you having to deal with me being such a wreck, a shadow of myself. I hate being so broken,” Reni’s voice breaks again, another sob escaping her as she presses herself as close to Alina as possible.

“And I hate that you hate yourself right now,” Alina whispers. “Nobody gets away with hating my best friend. My beautiful, strong, kind best friend.”

“No, don’t. I’m not—” Reni’s protests are cut off by Alina gently pulling up her face and kissing her lips. 

Reni’s body stiffens for a moment, before her eyes flutter close and she melts into the kiss. She presses her face a bit closer, shifting in the bath so they’re even closer together.

When Alina pulls away, Reni’s expression is slightly stunned. Her cheeks are tinged a soft pink, her eyes half closed.

“We should get you dried off and in bed,” Alina whispers.

Reni nods slowly, her mind still a bit stunned from the kiss, but she doesn’t protest as Alina slowly coaxes her out of the tub and helps her dry off. Reni shivers slightly at the change in temperatures before Alina helps her don pajamas and lays her on the bed.

Once Reni is under the blankets, Alina starts to pull away, but Reni quickly grabs her hand to stop her from leaving. Reni hesitates, glancing away before finally speaking, her voice soft. “Can… can you… please stay with me?”

Alina nods, smiling. “Let me take off this dress. I’ll be right here, beside the bed.”

Reni hesitates for a moment, before nodding a bit reluctantly. She keeps her gaze on the ceiling as she shifts to face away from the bed, giving Alina privacy to change out of her dress.

“It’s not like you haven’t watched me change before, Re,” Alina says, climbing into bed next to Reni in only her undergarments. 

Reni turns to face Alina, her gaze quickly flickering up and down Alina’s frame, lingering on her bare stomach. Reni’s cheeks turn an embarrassed pink, and she reaches out to rest her hand on Alina’s hip. “I…” she hesitates, her gaze dropping to the sheets rather than remain locked on Alina. “Ali….”

“Yes, Re?”

Reni hesitates, her fingers gently brushing over Alina’s hip, tracing little patterns on her skin. “Just… hold me. Please .”

“Okay,” Alina mumbles, pulling herself up against Reni. “I got you. I got you, Re.”

Notes:

Author’s Note: A really long one for you guys! I’m working on chapter twelve now and it’ll be out soon!
Sincerely,
Archz
(3627 Words)

Chapter 16: Thirteen

Reni sits at her desk, looking over the two months of reports Sictus left for her to review. Reni taps her fingers against her desk, her other hand pinching her brow. She sighs, opening the first report.

There’s a knock on the door, followed by Alina stepping in. She closes the door behind her and leans against it, eyeing Reni in her heavy metal armor. “How’s your first day back?” Alina asks, eyes tracing the intricate designs on Reni’s chestplate.

“Well Sictus has a tendency to ramble in his reports so it’s taking forever to read them,” Reni says, finally looking up and trailing off.

The way Alina is leaning against the door, slightly flushed—probably from the walk over to Reni’s office—with her head resting back so she looks down at Reni, a small smile on her lips. It makes Reni’s heart stop. She forces her body not to physically react. 

Alina chuckles, absentmindedly biting her lip as she looks at Reni’s armor. “Are you a fan of it?” Reni asks Alina. “My new armor?”

Alina nods, slowly approaching Reni’s desk. She walks around it so she’s standing next to Reni, looking over the designs on her armor. She runs a hand over her chest plate, tracing one of the patterns. “It looks good on you,” Alina says softly. “Father is planning on giving you a new medal at tonight’s ball.”

“For what?” Reni asks, laughing softly.

“Saving my brother’s life by sacrificing yourself, killing Platatos, stopping her pirates, surviving what she did to you,” Alina lifts a hand and runs her fingers over the two scars on Reni’s cheek, one from Plantatos and one from one a year ago when Reni took a cut from a poisoned dagger trying to protect Alina. “They’re all pretty good reasons, to me.”

“Tell me you didn’t convince him to do it,” Reni says, closing her eyes.

Alina shakes her head. “This time, it was all him,” she murmurs, bracing her index finger under Reni’s chin as she continues to trace the scars of Reni’s cheek with her thumb. 

“What’s up with you today?” Reni asks softly as she opens her eyes. “You’re a little clingier than usual.”

“I missed you.”

“You saw me two hours ago, at breakfast.”

“That’s two hours far too long,” Alina mutters, rolling her eyes. 

Alina moves her hand to grip Reni’s chin between her thumb and forefinger, pulling Reni’s face closer to hers. She leans in close, until their noses are nearly touching, her breath fanning out on Reni’s cheeks.

The door slams open and Alina jumps away from Reni as Reni jumps to her feet, staring wide-eyed at Sictus with his hands on his knees as he heaves out breaths. 

“Lieutenant!” Reni shouts, glaring at Sictus. “What is the meaning of you slamming into my office without knocking?”

Sictus looks up, his face red. “Sorry, Captain,” he says, taking a breath, “but I have news and it’s not good.”

After a moment, Sictus straightens up and gives Alina a polite, if hasty, nod, before his eyes drift back to Reni. “We’ve just received word from Arivel,” he says, still slightly out of breath. “Your brother cannot make it to the ball tonight. It seems that your father fell terribly ill a few nights ago and suddenly passed away two nights ago. The messenger traveled as fast as possible to get the message here. I’m sorry for your loss, Captain.”

Reni sits back in her chair, bracing one hand on her forehead. “Thank you, Sictus. Please resume your duties.”

“You’re not taking the rest of the day off? Captain you—”

Reni holds up her other hand to silence him. “Today is my first day back on duty. I’m not taking the rest of the day off. My father has been dying for years now, we knew it was coming.”

“Under… Understood, Captain,” Sictus said, bowing to Alina before leaving and gently closing the door behind him.

Alina slowly approaches Reni, a concerned frown on her face. “Reni, I’m so sorry,” Alina says softly, gently resting a hand on Reni’s shoulder. “I know you didn’t have the best relationship with him, but he was still your father.”

Reni rubs both hands down her face, taking a shaky breath. “He hated that I broke tradition. Li was supposed to go into the guard, not me. ‘The firstborn is always the heir elect, no matter what,’” Reni scoffs, exhaling. “Li isn’t ready to take over the duchy.”

“You know Li, he'll figure it all out eventually,” Alina says softly. “And he has plenty of advisors for now to guide him until he's fully ready.”

“The advisors are just as conservative as my father,” Reni mumbles. “They might even be worse. They resent Lium. They resent him because of me, Ali, and now he’s stuck with them as his teachers.”

Alina sighs, running her fingers through Reni’s hair. “Is there anything I can do?” She asks softly, her body pressed against Reni’s back as she leans against Reni’s chair.

“I need to ask your father for a favor,” Reni says, closing her eyes, “but he likes me so it won’t be terrible.”

“Plus, with all you’ve done for my family,” Alina says, gently kissing the top of Reni’s head, “you deserve a million favors.”

“Come with me to talk to your father?” Reni asks softly, standing after a moment.

Alina nods, taking Reni’s hand and squeezing it. “Of course,” she says quietly, entwining her fingers with Reni’s.

They make their way through the halls to the throne room. Reni pushes open one of the massive wooden doors and slips in, her other hand slipping out of Alina’s. She walks in, glad the king isn’t speaking with anyone at the moment.

“Excuse me, King Telus,” Reni says, kneeling before him and bowing her head, “I have a favor to ask of you.”

King Telus looks at Reni over the rim of his small spectacles. “Of course, Reni,” he says warmly, gesturing for her to stand. “Please, what is it?”

Reni stands, glancing at Alina who stands beside her before looking back at the King. “We just received word that my fath—that Duke Lestrus Vel has passed away and I—” Reni cuts herself off for a moment, taking a breath. “You’re aware of Arivel’s strict traditions which I, and therefore my brother, have broken and how my father’s advisors feel about both Prince—Duke Lium and I. 

“Since I will be unable to return to Arivel with my duties here, I was hoping you would do me the favor of sending either Prince Vycious or Prince Endrus to help advise him for at least a month.”

Prince Endrus is the second eldest Von Dawn child, Alina’s older brother and Vycious’ younger brother. 

King Telus rubs his chin, thinking for a moment. “Of course I could send one of my sons,” he says, resting one hand on Reni’s shoulder. “I have to ask, though, are you sure one month will be enough? Vycious and Endrus may need to stay longer, depending on how badly Lium struggles.”

“Li is a quick study,” Reni says, a fond small gracing her lips for a moment. “If they deem it necessary to stay longer, I certainly won’t stop them, but I have the utmost confidence in my brother, sir.”

The king chuckles softly, patting Reni’s shoulder. “Very well,” he says, smiling. “I shall speak to the princes about the matter, tell them you asked for it. You have my guarantee that one of my sons will help advise your brother.”

“Thank you, King Telus,” Reni says, forcing herself not to cry as she bows and lets Alina lead her out of the throne room and back to her office.

Alina closes and locks the door into Reni’s office. She doesn’t say anything as she undoes the straps holding Reni’s chestplate together. Alina sets the chestplate down and wraps her arms around Reni’s waist, gently rubbing her lower back as she presses her face into Reni’s neck. 

“I got you, Re,” Alina murmurs, swaying slightly with Reni.

Reni lets Alina hug her for a moment before taking off the rest of her armor, piling it haphazardly next to her chestplate, and leaving her in her black shirt and trousers. 

“So,” Alina says softly, “how bad are your brother's advisors going to be?”

“With one of your brothers there, they'll behave. Lium will have the endorsement of Herbin which means the people of Arivel will lay off of him even though he's the second born. But he’s already been Duke for a full day and he won’t have any support from Herbin for at least another two days. Right now, he’s probably really struggling,” Reni sighs, trailing off.

Alina gently massages Reni's shoulders, trying to help her relax. “Do you really think he's struggling that badly?” she asks softly, leaning down to press a small kiss to the top of Reni's head.

“He’s sixteen, Ali,” Reni murmurs, pressing her face into Alina’s neck. “Even if he knows more about Arivel’s traditions and customs than the advisors combined, he’s young.”

“You were seventeen when you became Captain,” Alina says. 

“I lead a bunch of guards, I don’t make decisions for nearly thirty thousand citizens.”

Alina continues to run her hands over Reni’s shoulders, gently rubbing her thumbs into the tense muscles. “He has your support,” she murmurs, her cheek resting against the top of Reni’s head as she runs her fingers along Reni’s neck, trying to soothe her. “You already have a plan in place to help him. He’s going to be fine.”

Reni nods. “I’ll send him a letter through the aviary later,” Reni murmurs. “All of Arivel’s messenger birds were wiped last year and they haven’t had the resources to replace them so I fear Herbin’s messenger birds will be working overtime for Lium and I.”

Alina chuckles softly, gently twisting one of Reni's curls around her finger. “Let them work. You're one of Herbin's heroes and Lium is now the Duke of Herbin's strongest ally. Herbin would do anything for either of you.”

Reni closes her eyes, pressing her face into Alina’s neck as Alina idly continues to play with her curls. Reni relaxes more and more as time passes, her breathing getting deeper.

Alina takes notice, and continues to run her fingers through Reni’s hair, gently scratching her scalp, and rubbing her fingertips against the nape of Reni’s neck.

Reni groans and slowly wraps her arms around Alina’s lower back. She takes a deep breath, nuzzling Alina’s neck. Cinnamon and vanilla fill her nose and Reni groans again, softer this time.

“You smell so good,” Reni mumbles after a moment.

Alina smiles, chuckling softly as she continues to run her fingers through Reni’s hair. “You like the way I smell?” Alina teases, gently scratching at the base of Reni’s neck.

“You smell like Arivel, like home.”

“Maybe that’s the point,” Alina whispers, smirking as she kisses the top of Reni’s head. 

Reni sighs, a lazy smile on her lips as she presses herself as tightly to Alina as she can. “You wear perfume that smells like my childhood home?”

“I do,” Alina says softly, gently massaging the nape of Reni’s neck.

“Since when?”

“Just after Nalia brought you back, when you were mostly unconscious,” Alina whispers. “You were less likely to have nightmares when you smelled either cinnamon or vanilla so I started wearing a perfume that has both.”

“Thank you, Ali.”

Alina smiles, shaking her head slightly. “You don’t have to thank me, silly. You’re my best friend. I’d do anything for you, okay?”

“Okay.”

Notes:

Author’s Note: Thank you for reading! I love you so much!
Sincerely,
Archz
(1939 Words)

Chapter 17: Fourteen

People flock into the grand ballroom. Reni stands near a wall, sipping wine from a chalice as she watches. Her spare hand rests on the hilt of her sword, hanging off her left hip. 

Reni hasn’t seen Alina since she went up to her room to get ready for the ball a couple hours before. She scans the crowd again, but there’s still no sign of Alina. 

King Telus stands up from his throne. The room immediately falls silent. “Friends, thank you for coming tonight. Today is an especially important occasion for us in Herbin as our esteemed Captain Reni Vel has officially recovered from her injuries and returned to duty,” King Telus pauses, letting the room erupt with clapping and cheers. “Captain, please come join me.”

Reni nods, setting her wine down, slipping around the groups of people and up onto the dais. She pauses when she’s a couple feet away from King Telus. 

“For your bravery and strength in the face of the pirate Captain Xana Plantatos,” King Telus says, motioning for Prince Vycious to hand him a velvet box, “I give you this medal.”

Vycious opens the box and King Telus gingerly lifts the small circular pin made of pure gold, a large diamond set in the center, surrounded by a phoenix insignia. He turns to face Reni again, pinning it in place next to Reni’s other medals and pins on her dress uniform. 

The room fills with applause and cheers again. Reni bows, keeping her hand on the hilt of her sword. She straightens, forcing a polite smile on her lips despite how uncomfortable she is. After the applause dies down, Reni walks off the dais and towards the drink table. She snags another chalice of wine, quickly draining it.

“You know, Captain,” a deep voice chides from Reni’s right, “you should be savoring that wine. It’s very expensive. It was imported from Novara.”

Reni glances over, examining the dark red suit of Baron Trouvo. Reni rolls her eyes. “How’s your father’s estate, Trou?” Reni asks, grabbing another chalice and sipping from it as she takes a step away from the drink table. 

“I wasn’t expecting to manage it this young,” Trouvo says, plucking the wine from Reni’s hand and downing it himself. “Father decided it’d be a wonderful idea to kick the bucket just before my nineteenth birthday.”

“My condolences,” Reni says sarcastically, grabbing another chalice of wine and sipping from it. 

“And mine to you, Reni,” Trouvo says, grabbing his own chalice. “It’s a shame Lium didn’t get more time before becoming Duke.”

Reni scoffs into her chalice, taking a long drink from it and forcing herself to swallow it slowly. Trouvo grins at her, placing a hand on her hip as he presses himself against her. “You’re all alone tonight, aren’t you, Captain?” he murmurs in her ear.

Reni rolls her eyes, gently shoving Trouvo, but he just steps forward again, pushing Reni against the wall. “You look good,” he says, sliding a hand down Reni’s side. 

Reni bites her lip, gently pushing against his chest. “Trou,” she murmurs, keeping her voice low. “Don’t.”

Trouvo smirks. “Don’t what?” he asks, gently massaging her hip as he leans in closer. “Don’t press myself up against you, don’t slide my hand over your body, don’t kiss your neck and make you moan my name?”

“Trou we’re in public. You’re going to cause a scene if we don’t move somewhere more private.”

Trouvo grins even wider, gently nipping at Reni’s ear before kissing the pulse point under her jaw. “Let’s go find a nice, quiet place then,” he murmurs, trailing his fingers over Reni’s thigh. “You up for that, Captain?”

Reni suppresses a moan and grabs his hand, dragging him out a side door and toward her office. She closes and locks the door behind her and pulls him into her chambers, locking that door for good measure. 

Trouvo grabs Reni and pushes her gently against the wall, pressing his body against hers as he attacks her neck with open mouthed kisses and undoes the buckle of her sword belt. “Trou,” Reni gasps softly, threading her fingers through his hair. “Leave a visible mark and I will kick your ass.”

“Got it, Captain,” Trouvo murmurs, unbuttoning Reni’s jacket and shoving it off her.

Trouvo sucks on Reni’s collarbone, slipping his hands under her undershirt and pulling it off. He slips his fingers under her chest binder, carefully unwrapping it.

Reni closes her eyes and lets her head fall back. She pushes her hips against Trouvo, making them both moan softly.

Trouvo starts to leave a trail of kisses down her chest, but he hesitates, pausing as he traces the scars on Reni’s abdomen.

“Trou, it’s fine,” Reni murmurs, slipping her right index finger under Trouvo’s chin and making him look up at her. “I’m healed.”

Trouvo lets out a breath and presses his forehead against Reni’s chest. “How did you get these?” he mumbles, gently running his fingers over the two of the still red scars on Reni’s stomach.

“Torture,” Reni mumbles. “Captain Plantatos.”

Trouvo’s whole body tenses. “She tortured you?” he asks, his voice barely above a whisper. “Gods above, I want to kill her.”

“Too late, Trou,” Reni says, smirking. “I already did.”

Reni unbuttons Trouvo’s jacket and shirt, piling them on the floor next to hers. She shoves him toward her bed, climbing on top of him and kissing his chest, over the tattoo of Myvatr—the god of storms. 

Reni bites down gently on Trouvo’s chest, sucking and licking the pale skin. Trouvo groans, running his hands over Reni’s back, scraping his nails over her shoulder blades. 

Trouvo suddenly grabs Reni, rolling so she’s underneath him. He straddles her, kissing her chest as he undoes her belt and trousers.

Trouvo slowly kisses her stomach, trailing his lips lower and lower until he hovers above her lower belly, just above her trousers. He pauses, his warm breath against her skin, his eyes searching Reni’s face.

Reni bites her lip, her fingers curling in the sheets. “You are killing me, Trou.”

Trouvo chuckles softly, slowly pulling down Reni’s trousers, trailing his lips over her hip bones. Reni squirms underneath him, arching her back with a soft moan.

Trouvo discards Reni’s trousers and belt to the side of the bed, kissing up and down her thighs. Reni’s breath hitches as Trouvo leaves small love bites. She grabs a fistful of sheets, twisting them in her hands as a low moan slips out of her.

Trouvo slips her underwear off, smirking as he grabs her thighs, moving her legs apart. He slowly, agonizingly so, kisses up her thigh and to her vulva. He smirks as he licks her. 

“You’re already so wet, Reni,” Trouvo murmurs before gently sucking on her clit. 

“Shut— gods above —shut up, Trou!” Reni moans, closing her eyes and pressing her head into her pillows. 

Trouvo hums, massaging her thighs as he switches between licking up from Reni’s vagina to sucking her clit. Reni arches her back a little, not bothering to hold back desperate gasps and moans.

Trouvo pulls back, unbuckling his belt as Reni groans in protest. He slides off his pants and underwear, crawling back up to kiss Reni as he gingerly slides his cock in her. 

Reni moans into the kiss, gripping Trouvo’s shoulders instead of her sheets. Trouvo smiles, pulling out of the kiss as he shifts his hips. 

“You had your hysterectomy like you planned, right?” Trouvo asks, closing his eyes as he starts moving his hips up and down. 

Reni nods, pulling him back into a desperate kiss. Trouvo obliges, sliding his arms under Reni’s shoulders as they kiss. 

“Shit,” Reni moans, tilting her head back. “Fuck, Trou .”

Trouvo kisses her neck, careful not to leave any marks as he speeds his movements up a little. “How close are you?” He whispers against her neck.

“Fucking close,” Reni says, dropping her hands back to grip her sheets. “Don’t you dare tease me like last time.”

“Got it, Captain,” Trouvo says as Reni’s breathing grows more erratic.

“Trou— please ,” Reni chokes out, her body shaking.

Trouvo nods, moving one hand between their bodies and gently rubbing Reni’s clit. He presses kiss after kiss to her neck, moaning against her skin. “Reni—Reni, I’m so close,” he groans, his movements more erratic.

“Trou, please,” Reni gasps, closing her eyes. “Please, please, please.”

Trouvo nods, his grip on her tightening as he rubs her clit faster. Reni’s body tenses, her moans growing louder. She grips her sheets tighter, her body arching up as she climaxes. Trouvo follows shortly after, burying his face in Reni’s neck as he slows his thrusts. 

After a moment Trouvo pulls out, laying down next to Reni who turns to look at him. He brushes a stray, sweat soaked hair behind her ear, smiling softly. 

Trouvo gently pulls Reni closer until she’s pressed against his chest, holding her close. He kisses the top of her head, running his fingers over her back. “Are you okay?” Trouvo asks, trailing his fingers up Reni’s spine.

“Mhm,” Reni murmurs, pressing her face against Trouvo’s chest. “You?”

Trouvo nods, gently lifting Reni’s chin. “We should probably get cleaned up and go back to the ball.”

Reni groans. “I know.”

Trouvo chuckles, shaking his head as he presses a kiss to Reni’s nose. “Come on, Reni. You’re the Guest of Honor, remember ?”

Reni groans, sitting up as she swings her legs off the edge of the bed. “Yeah, yeah, I know,” Reni sighs, looking at her clothes all over the floor.

Reni sighs and gets up, cleaning herself off before dressing herself again. She makes sure every piece of clothing and every one of her medals and pins are perfect before redoing her hair and kohl.

Trouvo gets dressed quickly, rebuttoning his jacket and fastening his belt. He runs a hand through his messy hair as he looks at Reni. “You look good,” he says, crossing the room to stand in front of her, adjusting her lapels.

“And you look like a fucking goblin,” Reni says, smirking. 

Trouvo lets out a gasp, placing one hand over his heart. “I’m offended, Captain. You hurt my feelings.”

Reni rolls her eyes. “Oh, whatever will you do?” Reni asks, unlocking her bedroom door and stepping out into her office. 

“I’ll be heartbroken forever,” Trouvo says dramatically, draping himself over Reni and faking a pitiful expression.

“Cry about it, Trou,” Reni says, lightly shoving him as she unlocks her office door and steps back out into the hallway.

Notes:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author’s Note: Hehe. What do you think happens when they get back to the ball?
Sincerely,
Archz
(1760 Words)

Chapter 18: Fifteen

Reni steps back into the grand ballroom, Trouvo at her side with his signature sly smirk spread across his face.

“Oh stop looking so smug, Trou,” Reni snorts as they walk around groups of nobles chatting and dancing away.

“Why should I? I just had wonderful sex with Herbin’s hero,” Trouvo whispers in Reni’s ear.

Reni rolls her eyes, shoving him lightly again as they reach the drinks table, Reni grabbing another chalice of wine. “You are so full of yourself,” Reni grumbles, taking a long drink from her chalice.

A hand grabs Reni’s wrist, turning her around. “Where have you been?” Alina asks, pulling Reni into a tight hug. “I’ve been looking for you for a half hour.”

Reni smiles and hugs Alina back, forcing a laugh. “I was in my office,” Reni says, sipping her wine as she pulls back to look at Alina.

Alina glances at Trouvo, still hovering nearby and back to Reni. “Why?” Alina asks, plucking the chalice from Reni’s hand and taking a sip.

Reni glances over her shoulder, glaring at Trouvo. He rolls his eyes and walks into a nearby group, joining in their conversion. Reni looks back at Alina and sighs. “I needed a break from the ball, Ali.”

Alina nods, understanding. “You were being smothered by nobles asking you questions and flirting with you, weren’t you?”

Reni just nods. Only one noble flirted with her before she went to bed with him, but Alina doesn’t need to know that. 

“Of course they were. You’re the Guest of Honor tonight. And you do look quite spectacular,” Alina laughs, pulling Reni into a more secluded place. 

Reni raises an eyebrow as Alina takes another drink from her stolen chalice. “I look like I do at every other ball, Alina.”

“Oh but you look especially nice tonight,” Alina murmurs, running her fingers over Reni’s medals. “Especially when you’re all dressed up and serious like this.”

“Thank you, Alina,” Reni says, frowning for a split second as she rests her hands on Alina’s sides.

Alina finishes her stolen wine and sets the chalice down, bracing both hands on Reni’s upper chest this time, fiddling with her medals. 

Reni watches Alina, her expression a mask of blank indifference as always with a hint of exhaustion. Alina takes a moment to just admire the way Reni looks in her dress uniform, all formal and perfect. Alina runs her hands up her chest as she finally looks at Reni to give her a small smile. Reni returns a small half smile, tilting her head to the side curiously. “Why are you looking at me like that?” Reni questions curiously, tilting her head just a little more.

“Like what?”

“You’re looking at me like you’re planning something,” Reni says, her voice quiet. “Should I be worried?”

“Of course not,” Alina says, a smirk spread across her lips. “I’m just admiring.”

Reni’s eyes narrow in slight suspicion. “Admiring what?” She asks, lightly squeezing Alina’s sides.

“Your medals, obviously,” Alina says, despite not breaking eye contact with Reni.

“Liar,” Reni murmurs, wrapping her arms around Alina’s back and pulling her ever-so-slightly closer to her.

Alina lets out a quiet melodic laugh. “No, I’m not lying… but I am also admiring you,” she admits, her gaze never lifting from Reni’s eyes.

“What about me are you admiring?” Reni asks, one hand moving to Alina’s hip to keep her in place while the other trails up her spine.

Alina’s body tenses ever so slightly, a shiver running down her spine. “I’m admiring quite a few things, actually,” Alina murmurs, her eyes flickering between Reni’s eyes and her lips.

Reni leans in until she’s close enough to taste the alcohol on Alina’s breath. She’s more than certain Alina is drunk enough that she won’t remember this in the morning. “Oh really?” Reni asks.

Alina nods, the hand not playing with Reni’s medals slides up her chest and neck, resting on Reni’s cheek. She tilts Reni’s face down slightly, brushing their noses together. 

“Care to share the specifics?” Reni murmurs, smiling softly as her eyes flutter closed.

“Your eyes, your lips, the way you feel on my hands, the way your breath quickens when I do this,” Alina ghosts her lips over Reni’s, “the way you’re holding me, the way the light reflects off your medals… I could go on.”

Reni swallows hard, her fingers pressing against Alina’s hip and pulling her closer. “You’re drunk,” Reni says, her voice soft. “You’re going to feel differently about this in the morning.”

“Maybe,” Alina whispers, “but right now, I want this.”

Reni tries to come up with a rebuttal. A reason to push Alina away, but she can’t find one. So instead she keeps pulling her closer, tilting her head slightly. “What if someone sees us?” Reni asks, trying to hold onto her last bit of restraint.

“Then we should go to my chambers, Re,” Alina says, kissing Reni.

Reni pulls back after a moment. “Let’s go.”

Alina grabs Reni’s hand, dragging her out of the ballroom and up to her chambers. She closes the door to her bedroom and kisses Reni, unbuttoning her jacket and sliding it off her shoulders. She fumbles with the buckle of Reni’s sword belt for a moment before it drops to the ground. 

Reni smiles into the kiss, pulling Alina over to her bed. Reni breaks the kiss and sits, pulling Alina so she straddles Reni’s lap. 

Alina runs her fingers through Reni’s hair, gently tugging on the ends as she leans in to kiss Reni’s neck. Reni gasps softly, tilting her head and baring more of her neck to Alina’s mouth. Reni runs her hands over Alina’s dress, gripping her hips to pull her even closer.

“Ali…” Reni mumbles, her breath hitching. 

“Shh…” Alina whispers against Reni’s neck, continuing to trail open mouthed kisses across Reni’s skin. She grabs the bottom of Reni’s undershirt, starting to tug the fabric upwards.

Reni grabs Alina’s hands. “Not yet, okay? Not when you’re drunk.”

Alina stops, pulling back slightly. She lets out a small sigh, taking a hand off Reni’s to run a hand through her hair. “I hate it when you’re responsible,” Alina groans, resting her forehead against Reni’s shoulder.

Reni pulls Alina’s chin so they’re face to face again. “I know,” she mumbles, kissing Alina again. 

Alina groans playfully into the kiss, sliding her hands up Reni’s torso. “You’re being unfair, you know,” Alina murmurs, gently biting Reni’s lower lip.

“How is it unfair to not want us to sleep together, especially if you’re drunk?”

Alina sighs, resting her head on Reni’s shoulder. “Because I want you,” Alina says, shifting in Reni’s lap. “I want you now, and it’s your fault.”

Reni swallows hard, one hand tangling in Alina’s hair to tilt her head back slightly. Reni presses her lips against Alina’s jawline, trailing her lips down her throat. “You’re not going to remember any of this in the morning, Ali. And if you do, you’re going to regret it,” Reni breathes against Alina’s skin, leaving small marks on Alina’s neck.

Alina lets out soft, shaky breaths, her grip on Reni’s shirt tightening. “I don’t care if I don’t remember,” Alina murmurs, moving her hand up to the back of Reni’s head. “Just… I need you right now, Re.”

“I’m sorry, Ali,” Reni murmurs, looking Alina in the eyes.

“You’re evil, you know that?” Alina says, a slightly whine in her voice. “I hate you right now.”

“If you hate me, don’t kiss me again,” Reni murmurs, lightly brushing her lips over Alina’s.

Alina’s grip on Reni’s shirt tightens, her fingers curling in the fabric as she tries to close the gap between their lips. “Please, I want you so bad,” she whispers against Reni’s jaw.

“We can’t, Ali,” Reni says, tilting her head to the side as Alina moves her kisses down Reni’s jaw. 

Alina’s hand starts to wander again, sliding up Reni’s torso to start unbuttoning her undershirt. “Please,” is all Alina can whimper, biting Reni’s neck. Reni lets out a small gasp, tilting her head to the side to give Alina more room.

“You’re making it incredibly hard to say no,” Reni says, letting Alina unbutton her shirt. 

Alina smirks, her hands exploring Reni’s torso, teasing the edge of her chest binder. “That’s the point, Re.”

Reni tries to keep her breathing level as Alina’s fingers tease at the edge of her chest binder. “I’m trying to be responsible,” Reni murmurs, resting her hand on Alina’s hip and gripping it tightly. “We can’t go farther than this, Ali. Please.”

“Says who?” Alina asks, gently tugging her fingers at Reni’s laces. “Please, Re, I want you.”

Reni’s breath hitches. “You’re drunk,” Reni says gently, sliding one hand up to cup Alina’s face, running her thumb across Alina’s lower lip. “Your head isn’t clear, you’re not thinking.”

Alina bites Reni’s thumb lightly. “I don’t care if I’m drunk,” she whispers, moving to kiss Reni’s neck again. “I need you, Re. I don’t care what state I’m in.”

“You will in the morning. You’ll hate yourself for this, if you can even remember it.”

Alina groans in frustration, pulling Reni so her back hits the bed and Alina moves over her, straddling Reni’s waist. “You’re being so stubborn, Re,” Alina mumbles, pinning Reni’s wrists above her head.

“I’m being responsible,” Reni says, a soft whimper escaping her as her body arches up against her will.

Alina leans down, pressing her face against Reni’s jawline, gently nipping just below her ear. “You’re being unfair,” Alina says softly, gently rocking her hips. “Please, Re.”

“I’m not being unfair. I’m not comfortable going any further than this when you’re drunk.”

Alina rests her head in the crook of Reni’s neck, pressing a soft kiss to Reni’s skin. “That’s why it’s unfair,” Alina mumbles, her hands still pinning Reni’s wrists to the mattress. “Stop making me want you.”

“I’m not making you do anything,” Reni whispers.

Alina lets her hands drop from Reni’s wrists, resting her hands on the mattress on either side of Reni’s head. “You’re lying here, looking gorgeous with your shirt undone, you’re breathing like… that, and I’m just supposed to control myself?” Alina whimpers.

Reni nods slightly, leaving her arms where they are above her head as she closes her eyes. She takes a deep breath, trying to school her growing arousal. “Yes, Ali, because us making out while you’re drunk and us having sex when you’re drunk are two very different things. One of which I'm not comfortable with.”

Alina sighs, pressing a kiss to Reni’s jawline. “You’re going to be the death of me,” she murmurs, resting her forehead against Reni’s.

Reni smiles softly, her eyes slowly opening as she looks up at Alina. It’s painfully obvious Alina had way too much to drink as she slumps forward, resting her head against Reni’s shoulder. Reni lets a gentle sigh, a hand lightly sliding over Alina’s hair.

“You’re exhausted, aren’t you, Alina?”

Alina only nods, her body going limp against Reni’s as her tiredness finally hits her. “Please don’t let me go,” Alina mumbles, shifting slightly so she’s laying against Reni’s side.

Reni lets out a snort, wrapping her arms around Alina and tugging her closer. “I’m not leaving, Ali. Don’t worry.”

Reni pulls the covers of Alina’s bed over them, holding Alina close to her. 

Alina presses the side of her face against Reni’s chest, listening to her heart beat. “I’m sorry…” Alina mumbles, embarrassment coloring her voice.

Reni gently presses a kiss to the top of Alina’s head, tightening her grip on her. “For what?” Reni asks curiously.

“For pushing, for being drunk… I’m just sorry,” Alina murmurs, nuzzling her face against Reni’s chest.

Reni sighs, gently running her fingers through Alina’s hair. “You’re fine, Ali. There’s no need to apologize,” Reni says, lightly rubbing Alina’s side. “Try and get some sleep, yeah?”

Alina nods, mumbling something Reni doesn’t hear. Alina is out a few moments after that, still clinging to Reni like her life depends on it.

Notes:

Author’s Note: Hehe. I had fun with this chapter. Hope you enjoy just a little bit of teasing of their relationship.
Sincerely,
Archz
(2010 Words)

Chapter 19: Sixteen

Reni wakes up in Alina’s bed, their legs wrapped together and Alina’s arms around Reni’s neck. Reni isn’t wearing her shirt but her binder and pants are still on, thank the gods above and the dead below.

“Shit,” Reni whispers, carefully prying herself from Alina’s grip. “Shit, shit, shit .”

Reni creeps to her discarded jacket and sword belt, putting them on and slipping through the servant and guard tunnels to her office. Reni bursts into her room, changing into her black gambeson and pulling her armor on. 

“ Idiot ,” Reni chides herself, wiping off her kohl and reapplying it. 

Reni brushes her hair, tying it up into her perfect bun. “How drunk was I?” Reni mumbles to herself, closing the door to her chambers and settling in at her desk. 

Reni rests her head in her hands, groaning. “Fuck.”

Every detail, every kiss, every touch is crystal clear in Reni’s mind. She wishes she were blackout drunk because then she wouldn’t have to deal with the memory of it all. 

Reni groans again and opens her inkwell. She dips the nib of one of her quills in the midnight black ink and signs the report on the top of the pile on her desk Sictus left for her after he reviewed them. 

 

– – – – –

Alina slowly stirs, haphazardly reaching for Reni. She opens her eyes when she doesn’t feel Reni next to her, thinking she’d just be in the room. “Damnit, Reni,” Alina grumbles when she doesn’t see Reni in the room either.

Alina presses her face into her pillow, taking in the scent of Reni that lingered on the pillow.

At some point during the night, Alina must have taken her clothes off, though she can’t remember when or why. Alina rolls to her side, slowly standing up. She grabs her silk robe off a chair, wrapping it tightly around herself while she makes her way to the bathroom.

Alina takes one look in the mirror above the ornate golden wash basin and sighs as she glances at the dark marks littering her upper chest, neck, and shoulders.

Alina wets a soft cloth in the basin, gently wiping the smudged kohl Reni left off her face. Then she wets it again, wiping away smudges of lip tint from around her mouth.

A thought of last night flashes through Alina’s mind and she groans, running a hand through her messy hair. “What the fuck is wrong with me?” She mutters to herself, pressing a hand against her forehead.

Alina sits on the edge of her bed again, rubbing her temples to soothe the dull drumming in the front of her skull. “How much did I drink last night?” Alina mumbles to herself, dropping her hands into her lap.

Reni’s scent is all over the bed, in the sheets, on the pillows, everywhere. Alina lays back down, face buried in her pillows. The sun has risen just enough to stream into the room through the sheer curtains.

Alina groans, tightly rubbing her thighs together as a few flashes of memories from the night before enter her mind. 

“Gods above,” Alina whispers, one hand gripping her sheets while the other slowly slides from her chest to her thigh, pretending it’s Reni.

Alina’s eyes slip closed as her hand continues to slide over her body, fingers gently running over her hip and along her upper thigh. “Oh Reni,” Alina mumbles into a pillow. “What are you doing to me…making me feel like this?”

Alina’s thoughts shift to Reni and the way her rough, calloused hands gripped Alina’s sides, the way Reni held her so close, the sound of her soft gasps.

“Reni…” Alina mutters, shifting slightly and biting her lip.

Alina’s mind is racing as her hand slides slowly higher up her thigh, stopping just before her underwear. “Gods damn you, Reni,” Alina hisses, turning her head and hiding her face in her pillows again.

“Why did you have to leave? Why did you have to make me feel like this? Why couldn’t we just… why—fuck,” Alina trails off as her fingers gently brush up against her underwear. 

Alina sucks in a few breaths, rubbing herself through her underwear. “What is wrong with me? Why do I want you, Re? Why do I want you like thi—” Alina slips her fingers beneath her underwear, slipping one finger inside herself.

Alina’s hand moves in small, slow circles. She closes her eyes again, remembering the sensation of Reni’s lips on her neck, remembering the taste of Reni’s skin. “Reni…” Alina moans, gripping the sheets tightly with her free hand.

She adds a second finger and quickens her pace just slightly, tilting her head back against the pillows. Her breath is coming out in short, quick gasps as her hand moves slightly more frantic. 

“Reni…” Alina whispers again, her eyelids fluttering. “Reni, Reni, Reni, Reni, please .”

Alina imagines Reni on top of her, her fingers thrusting in Alina’s vagina instead of her own. She continues to touch herself faster, her thighs trembling. “Please, Reni, please, please . I need you, I need you, please ,” Alina mumbles incoherently, her mind a blur as she rapidly approaches her climax. 

Alina bites down on her lip to muffle a moan as the feeling of Reni’s hands in her mind and the feeling of her own fingers in reality start to collide, building that wonderful warmth low in Alina’s belly. “Please…” Alina begs, her free hand abandoning its death grip on the sheets to grip the nearest pillow and shove it against her face, partially to muffle her moans and partially because the pillow smells like Reni.

Alina’s thighs shudder, the muscles tense as the pressure builds lower and lower in her body. Her breath is coming in short gasps, her mind in a complete haze. “Oh gods, Reni,” Alina moans into the pillow, her hand still moving, her thoughts still focused on Reni. “Re, please, I’ll do anything.”

Alina can’t imagine what Reni’s response would be. She just lets out a moan and feels herself clamp down on her fingers. The warmth in her stomach spreads throughout her body. 

Alina heaves, slowly slipping her fingers out of her vagina, wiping them off on the fabric of her underwear. 

Alina presses her face deeper into the pillow, taking a deep breath. The scent of Reni on the fabric is slowly fading, and Alina is slowly regaining her normal thought process. 

“Gods, what did I just do?” Alina whispers as she throws the pillow to the end of the bed.

Alina sighs, rubbing her forehead before sitting up again. “I need a bath,” she mumbles, standing up and grabbing a new set of clothes before walking into the bathroom. Reni’s scent has been replaced by the smell of roses, lilacs, and vanilla from Alina’s favorite bathing oils and soaps. Alina quickly fills the ornate bathtub, the water scented just like the rest of the room.

Alina quickly peels off her silk robe before settling into the bathtub, sinking up to her chin in the warm water. Alina sighs, feeling the hot water soak into her muscles and relax them. 

Alina’s mind drifts back to the previous night again, remembering her body against Reni’s, her hands on Reni’s chest, Reni’s gasps and shaky breaths. 

Alina sinks deeper into the hot water, dunking her head beneath the water, hoping to drown out the thoughts.

“This isn’t helping,” Alina mutters to herself after resurfacing. 

Alina buries her face in her hands, groaning. “What is wrong with me? Masturbating and pretending it’s Reni? Fuck!”Alina’s words echo loudly off the walls, mocking her. “Why is it Reni? Of all the people, why her? Why does she have such a strong hold on me? Why—” 

Alina cuts herself off, letting out a loud groan of frustration. She gently combs soap through her hair, trying to find some kind of a distraction.

As she starts to rinse her hair, Alina lets her mind wander to Reni again. Reni’s scent, Reni’s skin, Reni’s body, Reni’s… everything. Alina lets out a soft whine and pushes Reni from her mind again . “No, goddammit, stop thinking about her. Come on Alina, you’re better than this! You’re not some lovesick thirteen year old boy!”

Alina continues to wash herself off, scrubbing at her skin harder than necessary. Anything to distract her stupid mind long enough to regain some rational thought.

Alina finishes washing herself, wrapping a towel around her body and stepping out of the tub. She makes her way back into her bedroom, getting dressed quickly and combing out her damp hair. 

"I should eat something," Alina murmurs, glancing out her window at the sun now fully illuminating her bedroom.

Alina pokes her head out of the door into her chambers. She faces Lett, offering him a slight smile. “Would you send an order down to the kitchens for something to eat?” Alina asks, watching as he pointedly avoids looking at the marks on her neck and collarbone.

Lett nods, hiding a smirk under a cough. Alina lets out an exasperated sigh, gently shutting the door so Lett can’t continue to stare.

Alina groans, throwing herself onto her bed. She rolls over onto her back, sighing in frustration. She lets her eyes slip closed, rubbing her temples as the images from the night before once again enter her mind. "I am so royally screwed," she murmurs.

Notes:

Author’s Note: A double post day? Whaaaat?

Sincerely,

Archz

(1562 Words)

Chapter 20: Seventeen

 

Metal clangs against metal. Reni’s dulled training sword scraps along the similarly dulled edge of the training sword in the hands of the young recruit. He stumbles back trying to keep proper form despite the heavy armor he isn’t used to yet which weighs him down. 

Reni lunges forward, disarming the boy and tapping him in the center of his chest with the tip of her sword. “That was better than last time,” Reni says, sheathing the training sword across her back and pulling the boy to his feet. “Pick up your weapon and go practice your forms. 

The boy nods quickly before grabbing his training sword from the ground and heading to the side of the training yard. Reni glances around the rest of the yard, seeing all the young soldiers training. Reni shakes her head slightly, stepping up to the edge of the training yard and leaning against a wall in the shade.

“This batch is rough, eh Captain?” Maris, the sergeant in charge of training this batch of recruits, says as she leans on the wall next to Reni.

Reni lets out a deep breath, a small smirk crossing her face. “You could say that,” Reni responds, glancing over at the group of young soldiers, watching them awkwardly swing swords. “What would you say the biggest problem is with this batch?”

“They’re scrawny, underfed. Most of them are from the outer villages in Herbin’s vicinity. They’re struggling out there as seen here,” Maris says, gesturing to the group of fifteen kids between ten and fifteen. “None of them can manage their armor yet and it’s been a month.”

“Try putting them in leather armor for a week,” Reni says, tapping her foot on the cobblestone path bordering the dirt training field. “Build them back up to the heavy armor.”

Maris nods, writing notes on the parchment in her hands. She glances over at the soldiers again. “I’ll get the leather armor ready,” she says, nodding to Reni before heading over to the recruits. 

Reni leans her head back against the wall with a sigh, closing her eyes.

A soft shuffling sound catches Reni’s attention and she cracks one eye open, glancing around the yard for the source of the sound. Reni’s attention lands on the gate of the training yard, watching as someone ducks behind the half wall beside the gate. 

“That’s strange," Reni murmurs, standing up straight and walking to the gate and stopping a few feet behind whomever ducked behind the wall.

Reni steps around the corner, leaning down to look whoever is hiding behind the wall in the eyes. "You're not supposed to be here," Reni says bluntly.

Reni looks over the girl, who’s maybe fifteen or sixteen years old–not much younger than Reni’s brother. Her clothes are ragged and obviously haven’t been washed in awhile. Her hair is a tangled up mess in a braid. 

Reni draws her sword as the girl lunges at her, swinging a dagger at Reni. Reni deflects the attack, grabbing the dagger and pulling it from the girl’s hand. 

“Give it back!” The girl shouts, trying to tackle Reni.

Reni side steps, hitting the girl in the back of her head with the pommel of her sword. The girl crumples to the ground.

Reni sighs and picks the girl up, carrying her down to the cells in the basement of the castle.

 

– – – – –

 

Reni sighs, sitting at the shitty wooden table where the dungeon  guards play cards and eat while on shift. The girl who attacked Reni groans, clutching her head as she sits up on the stone brick “bed” in the cell. 

Reni watches the girl, her foot tapping impatiently on the cobblestone floor. “Why were you in the training yard?” Reni asks, sitting forward in her chair.

The girl stays silent.

“Not gonna talk to me?” Reni asks, leaning her elbows on her knees.

Reni reaches to the back of her belt, drawing the dagger the girl had on her, pretending to expect it like she didn’t spend the first two hours waiting for the girl to wake up examining it. “Expensive dagger. Not made on Neleta. The metal and wood are from Grent,” Reni pauses, standing up and walking up to the bars, close enough for the girl to think she has a chance of grabbing the dagger but not close enough for her to do so. “What does a girl like you have such an expensive dagger for and why haven’t you sold it? You obviously don’t have any money or a place to sleep at night.”

The girl growls and charges at the bars, reaching for the dagger. She growls again when Reni holds it just out of reach, slamming her fist against the bars. “Give it to me! It’s mine!”

Reni sighs, sliding the dagger back onto her belt. “No,” Reni says, leaning against the front of the cell.

The girl clenches her fists into the frayed ends of her shirt. She steps right up to the bars, baring her teeth. “Give it to me you Neletan piece of trash.”

Reni raises an eyebrow, laughing a little. “You’re very angry,” Reni comments, eyeing the girl’s extra pointing canines and her elongated ears. 

"Shut up!" The girl snaps, reaching between the bars to grab Reni. 

Reni easily dodges her, unbothered by the attempted attack. "Do you have a name, little girl?" Reni asks, tilting her head to the side slightly.

“Like I’d tell you,” The girl growls. 

Reni shrugs, taking a few steps back. “Suit yourself. I’ll be back… sometime.”

 

– – – – –

 

Reni returns with a plate of bread, steak, and mixed greens four hours later. She sets the plate on the wooden table, slamming her fist–covered by her metal gauntlets–into the metal bars. “Are you ready to talk yet?”

The girl lifts her head up slightly, eyeing the plate through her tangled mess of hair. “Maybe,” she mutters, keeping her gaze on the plate of food.

“Answer my questions and you get the food.”

The girl sighs, slowly standing up from her bed in the corner. “Fine… but I want to eat while answering your questions… I’m hungry.”

Reni grabs the bread, breaking off a piece and handing it to the girl through the bars of the cell. “What’s your name?”

The girl scampers over to the bars and grabs the piece of bread, stuffing it in her mouth, “Kezu,” she says while chewing. 

Reni breaks off another piece, handing it to her. “Alright, Kezu, where did you get the dagger?”

“My brother. He was a Grentinite warrior before you disgusting Neletans killed him.”

Reni cringes, closing her eyes for a moment. She slides the plate into the cell, pulling over one of the chairs and sitting in it, watching Kezu eagerly shove the lukewarm food in her mouth. 

“How did you get to Neleta, if you hate it so much?”

“Some Neletan slave traders kidnapped me and a bunch of other children. I escaped as soon as their ship docked. I’ve been wandering since.”

Reni closes her eyes, taking a deep breath before returning her gaze to Kezu. “You do know that Neleta isn’t one big empire like Grent, right? Just because we live on the same continent, we aren’t all the same,” Reni sighs, rubbing her gauntlet down her face. The Neletans that are at war with Grent are from the west coast. Herbin and its allies aren’t part of the alliance that’s attacking your empire.”

Kezu glares up at Reni, growling slightly as she tears through the steak. “A Neletan is a Neletan.”

Reni presses her hand over her mouth, trying to refrain from snapping at the young girl. “Yes, yes. I’m a Neletan, so clearly I’m automatically evil and deserving of your hatred.”

“I’m glad we agree.”

Reni rolls her eyes, shaking her head. “That was sarcasm,” she mutters, crossing her arms over her chest.

Kezu only shrugs, shoveling another mouthful of food into her mouth. A pause in the conversation settles between the two, allowing Reni to study the girl.

“Did your brother teach you to fight?” Reni asks, thinking back to how close Kezu was to slicing her neck. 

Kezu lets a small smile onto her face, pride filling her eyes. “Yeah, he did. He said I was a natural and I’d learn quick. He used to say I got it from our mom.”

Reni just nods, resting her chin on her hand and her elbow on her thigh. She watches Kezu clean the plate of any crumbs, shoving it back through the bars of the cell once it’s clean. 

Reni picks up the plate, setting it on the table. She grabs the cotton satchel she brought down, shoving it through the bars. “There’s fresh clothes and a blanket in there. Nights get cold down here.”

Kezu hesitantly grabs the satchel, pulling out the fresh clothes and pulling on the shirt and pants. She unfolds the blanket, wrapping it around herself. “This is all for me?” She asks, almost in disbelief.

“Not all Neletans are bad,” Reni says, sitting down in the chair again. 

Silence drags on in the dungeon , for a moment before Reni sighs again. “You fight well. You’d be well suited to work for me.”

Kezu looks at Reni like she’s gone crazy. “I’d never work for a damn Neletan,” she snaps, pulling the blanket tighter around her.

“Even if you’d have guaranteed food, living space, and a decent pay?” Reni says, crossing her arms.

Kezu studies Reni for a few moments, mulling over that new bit of information. “You’re offering my food and a roof over my head and money... just for working?” She asks, gripping the edges of the blanket.

Reni nods and Kezu bites her lip. “Would I have to… wear a collar?” Kezu asks, letting the last word linger.

Reni stands up so fast and with so much force her chair topples over. She grabs the bars of the cell, looking down at Kezu. “Those assholes did that to you? The slave traders?”

Kezu curls up slightly, hugging her knees to her chest and wrapping the blanket tighter around herself. She doesn’t meet Reni’s gaze, instead staring down at the stone ground. She only nods in reply, refusing to speak.

Reni’s eyes widen and she rests her forehead on the bars. “Sorry for yelling,” Reni slides down to her knees, sitting back and crossing her legs together so her knees press against the bars of the cells. “I’m not angry at you, okay?”

Kezu hesitantly looks up at Reni, still not completely uncoiled. “Why would you care if those bastards put a collar on me? Aren’t they your kind? Aren’t you a Neletan too?” She asks, her lower lip trembling.

“They’re slave traders. People who lack any morality. I’d take a guess they’re from the Firesk Alliance from what you’ve said about them,” Reni sighs, looking up at the ceiling for a moment. “It’s a group of three kingdoms and a bunch of dutchies that want the Grentinite islands. They may be Neletans but the Hebin Alliance is actively against them. They are not my kind.”

Kezu shifts, hugging her knees to her chest again. She lets out a long sigh, relaxing slightly. “How do I know you’ll be different? How am I supposed to know you’re not gonna hurt me, lock me up, force a damn collar back around my stupid neck,” her voice rises in volume as she speaks, her words dripping with panic.

“You don’t. And I’ve only locked you up now because you attacked me but I want to let you out and I want to give you your dagger back. We’re both going to have to risk it and trust each other, okay?”

Kezu bites her lip, fiddling with the edge of the blanket. “And… if I say yes, if I agree to work for you… do I… need to call you by some bullshit title?”

Reni laughs, standing up and reaching for her master key. “I’ll make an exception for you.”

Kezu pushes herself off the ground and away from the wall as the cell door is pushed open. She takes a few tentative steps out of the cell. “So… what do I call you then?” She asks, keeping her guard up.

“I’m Reni,” Reni says, offering Kezu her dagger. 

Kezu slowly accepts the dagger, sliding it back into the sheath on her belt. “Reni,” she repeats, testing the name and the language on her tongue. “That’s a simple name.”

“It means ‘peacekeeper,’” Reni says, stepping back from the cell door to give Kezu room to walk out of the dungeon and never come back, if she chooses.

Kezu eyes the wide open exit, taking a few small, cautious steps. She pauses in the doorway, glancing from the open area of the dungeon to Reni standing in the doorway of the prison.

“Peacekeeper, huh?” Kezu mumbles, taking another step towards the stairs.

Reni nods, following a few feet behind Kezu. “Do you want more food or a bath first?” Reni asks, a small smile spread across her face.

Kezu hesitates halfway to the stairwell, turning to look at Reni. “A bath,” she says, her eyes studying Reni’s face, trying to find the slightest hint of deceit.

Reni grins, walking in front of Kezu after they reach the top of the stairs. “Come on,” Reni says, leading the way to the private bathing chamber usually reserved for guests of slightly lower nobility. 

Reni lets Kezu in, stepping over to the small furnace that heats the water and lights the coals. She fills the large tubs–set into the floor–with water and slots the furnace into place. 

Once the bath starts steaming, Reni takes the furnace out, extinguishes the coals, and puts it back against the wall for its next use. Reni smiles at Kezu and sits behind a set of floral partitions. 

“There’s a variety of oils and soaps for you to choose from near the bath,” Reni says, leaning back in the small chair she sits in.

Kezu slowly walks over to the selection of soaps and oils, running her fingers over the variety of bottles before settling on a bottle of something that smells like vanilla and citrus, as well as a bar of coconut soap. 

Kezu cautiously steps out of her new clothes, setting them on a rack near the bathing tub, and slowly steps into the tub. She lets out a quiet sigh, sinking all the way up to her chest in the warm water.

Reni smiles to herself and waits for Kezu to finish. 

Kezu relaxes in the bath, scrubbing and lathering the soap into her hair with a bar of coconut soap. After she’s scrubbed every inch of her skin and washed out her hair, Kezu slowly stands up, reaching for the towel laying on the edge of the tub. 

Kezu dries her body off, running the towel through in her hair. “Am I… supposed to wear the new clothes now?” She asks, keeping her gaze on the wooden tiles of the floor.

“You can if you want,” Reni says, grabbing a robe and holding it out beyond the partitions, “otherwise we can go get you a set that you like more.”

Kezu slowly approaches the partitions, hesitantly taking the robe from Reni and sliding her arms into the sleeves. She ties the robe shut, fidgeting with the ties on the front. “Should I give you my old clothes?” She asks, refusing to meet Reni’s gaze as she steps out from the partitions.

Reni shakes her head. “No, the servants will collect them in the morning,” Reni says softly, not wanting to spook Kezu. “Let’s go get you some clothes, yeah?”

Kezu nods and follows Reni to the armory near the barracks. Reni slips into a closet, lighting an oil lamp and setting it on its hook in the ceiling. She selects a set of clothes close enough to Kezu’s size, though a little big.

“Do you want to change in here and I’ll stand outside the closet?”

Kezu nods, accepting the clothes and pulling the pile of fabric close to her chest. She gently taps her fingers against the soft fabric, studying the color and texture in the low light. 

Kezu moves to the back of the closet, slowly pulling off the borrowed robe. She slips on the new clothes, buttoning them up and smoothing the fabric with her hands.

Reni hears Kezu tap the pauldron of her armor. “Good?” Reni asks.

“Yeah, it’s good,” Kezu says, slipping out of the closet. She runs her fingers over the fabric covering her arms, marveling slightly at the quality of the fabric. 

“It’s so soft,”  Kezu murmurs, fidgeting with the edges of the sleeves.

Reni nods. “‘Comfort is incredibly important for a knight’s wellbeing,’” she recites what the Captain before her said when he got them their soft linens. “Shall we go get you some more food?”

Kezu’s face lights up, an eagerness taking over in her gaze. “Please,” she murmurs, shifting from foot to foot, almost bouncing on her heels.

Reni leads Kezu through the servants’ halls, down into the kitchens. “The cooks have likely all gone to bed so there’s probably some cheese, bread, and other pre-prepared foods around. Just look around and grab what you want.”

Kezu nods, her footsteps light and quick through the kitchen. She opens the large wood cupboards, poking through the food and pulling out blocks of cheese, rolls of bread, and any pre-prepared meats. She sets the food out on one of the large counters, grabbing a plate and piling the food onto it.

Reni smiles and motions for Kezu to follow her once she’s certain Kezu has everything she wants. Reni leads Kezu up to her chambers through the servants’ halls.

They exit into Reni’s office where Reni motions for Kezu to sit in her padded chair. Kezu sits, placing her plate of piled bread, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, and pastries on Reni’s desk. 

When Kezu quickly starts to eat the food, Reni opens the door into her bedroom and starts to take off her armor, putting it up on the stand in the corner of the room.

Kezu continues to shovel food into her mouth, eating with no manners. She’s halfway through her plate when she glances up, noticing Reni pulling off her gauntlets, and her face falls slack. 

Kezu stares for a few moments, her mouth full of food, before swallowing the food in her mouth almost painfully. She takes another slow bite, still watching Reni out of the corner of her eye.

Reni tries to only pay attention to taking off her armor, not Kezu’s gaze on her as she does so. 

Once Reni is left only with a thin undershirt and her pants, Kezu abandons her attempt to be moderately polite along with her plate of food. She sits on the edge of her seat, her gaze glued to Reni’s body.

Reni flushes, glad her back is mostly turned toward Kezu. She moves her shirt back down her back to cover the whipping scars from Plantatos but not before Kezu sees them.

Kezu stands and makes her way across the room, gently grabbing Rin’s arm and stopping her from moving further. “What are these?” She asks, her fingers lightly tracing the scars on Reni’s back.

“I was captured and tortured a little less than three months ago,” Reni says, trying to withhold the whimper from her voice. 

Kezu’s fingers still move gently over the scars, tracing them with the tip of her fingers. “By who?” Kezu asks, her gaze still focused on the scars across Reni’s back.

“A pirate captain named Xana Plantatos.”

Kezu sucks in a sharp breath, her fingers freezing in the middle of tracing a deep scar. “I know that name… she’s brutal,” she whispers, slowly moving her hand from Reni’s back.

Reni just nods, turning to face Kezu. “I’m sure you’re exhausted,” she says, almost a whisper. “You can take my bed and I’ll sleep on my couch. I’ll talk to my lieutenant tomorrow and see if he’ll move to a different room so you can have the chambers next to mine.”

“Okay…” Kezu watches Reni gingerly walk back into her office, blowing out the oil lantern and plunging the room into darkness. 

Kezu does the same with the lantern in Reni’s room and collapses onto the bed, pulling the covers tightly around herself.

Notes:

Author’s Note: What do you think Alina’s reaction will be to Reni ‘adopting’ a kid? Will she approve? Will she hate it? What about Nalia? What will she think?
Sincerely,
Archz
(3407 Words)

Chapter 21: Eighteen

“It’s been a week,” Kezu says, her training sword clanging against Reni’s, “they still look at me weird.”

Reni glances at the other trainees, glaring at Kezu. “They’re jealous because you’re my student. The Captain personally trains a select few,” Reni says, side stepping and kicking Kezu’s knee. 

Kezu topples, slamming onto her back against the ground. She quickly gets back to her feet before Reni can grab her shoulder. Kezu grumbles to herself, taking a wide stance and adjusting her grip on the sword. “They look at me like I’m an outsider,” she mutters, swinging the sword again.

“To them, you are,” Reni says, blocking the attack. “They’ll come around. You just have to show them who you are.”

Kezu growls, pushing against the sword. “They’re not gonna give me a chance,” she growls, trying to force Reni off balance.

“So make them give you a chance,” Reni says, disarming Kezu, her training sword clattering to the dirt training ground behind her.

Kezu scowls, lunging and grabbing Reni around the middle. They slam to the ground, dust flying around them. Reni rolls them so she is pinning Kezu instead. 

“How will I make them give me a chance?” Kezu mutters, her arms wrapped around Reni’s middle, trapping Reni against her.

Reni grunts, pinning Kezu to the ground by her shoulders. “Show them you’re tough,” she mutters, still pinning Kezu's shoulders to the ground.

“I’ve done that, Reni!” Kezu snaps, glaring up at Reni despite the almost imperceptible tint to her cheeks. 

Reni chocks Kezu’s blush up to the sparing they’ve been doing for the past two hours. Reni shakes her head, leaning a little closer. “So try harder.”

“Reni…” Kezu whimpers, flushing a fraction more.

Reni’s eyes widen and she clears her throat. She quickly stands up, offering Kezu a hand. They both brush themselves off, Kezu not looking anywhere near Reni and Reni carefully studying Kezu’s face.

“Go clean your gear and then meet me for lunch,” Reni says, walking toward the stairs leading up to the hall where her office is.

 

– – – – –

 

“You took in some kid who tried to kill you?” Alina shouts, slamming the door open so hard it leaves a dent in the stone brick wall. 

Nalia rolls her eyes, glancing back at Alina from her perch on the chair on the other side of Reni’s desk. “What’s your problem with it? The kid needs a place to—”

Alina scoffs, scowling and holding her hand up to Nalia. “What is your obsession with adopting common vermin from the streets?” Alina asks, stepping up to Reni’s desk.

Reni slowly stands, gritting her teeth. “Keep your voice down, Alina Von Dawn,” Reni snaps, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. “My ward is currently sleeping.”

Alina scoffs again, opening her mouth to speak. Reni covers Alina’s mouth with her hand, shaking her head. “No, I’m not done. You will never insult anyone ever again on the basis of their class. Royalty or not, everyone deserves a chance.”

The door to Reni’s chambers creaks open. Kezu stands in the door, looking more like a scolded toddler than a teenager. Kezu looks between Nalia sitting at Reni’s desk, Alina standing in front of Reni, and Reni glaring down at Alina with her back facing Kezu.

There’s a few moments of absolute silence before Kezu speaks, cutting through it with all the elegance of a sledgehammer. “Did I do something wrong?” She asks, her hands clutching so hard at the edge of the door her knuckles are turning white.

Reni shakes her head, turning around to face her. “No, you didn’t—”

“You tried to kill the Captain of Herbin’s—” Alina is cut off by Nalia’s magic muting her voice.

“That’s enough, Alina,” Nalia says, glaring at Alina before turning and smiling at Kezu. “You didn’t do anything wrong. Ignore the princess. She’s just upset because she doesn’t get Reni to herself anymore. It’s the same reason she hates me.”

Kezu looks at Nalia with something bordering on disgust, her eyes then trailing back to Alina’s angry glower. “Why would she want Reni all to herself?” She asks, folding her arms across her chest.

Nalia shrugs, ignoring the warning glances from both Alina and Reni. “Alina thinks Reni is her property just because they grew up together.”

“Nalia,” Reni warns, crossing her arms over her chest.

Kezu frowns, glaring at Reni. “I thought you said Neletans are different in this part of Neleta,” Kezu says, pointing at Alina. “She’s acting exactly like the Neletans who killed my brother.”

Reni’s shoulders tighten, her hands clenching against her leather breastplate. “It’s a little more complicated than what Nalia said,” Reni says, forcing back her own biting tone. 

Kezu’s teeth grit and her face twists into a glare. “Complicated how? Because she’s royalty? You’re telling me royalty can do whatever they want because they’re wealthy and ‘important?’ My brother was important.” 

“It’s complicated because, despite what Nalia said, Alina doesn’t think she owns me,” Reni sighs. “She’s just worried because of what happened with Plantatos, that’s all.”

Nalia scoffs and rolls her eyes. “Sure, Re, lie to yourself and the kid.”

Kezu’s gaze flicks back and forth between Reni and Nalia, anger still boiling below the surface. “I don’t buy that. She’s not worried for you, she’s jealous you’re giving your attention to me now,” she snaps, her fingers balling up and shaking slightly.

Reni sighs, rubbing her temples. “That’s not what’s happening, Kezu. Just… be patient, please,” she says, gesturing for Kezu to come further into the room. “The way Alina and I grew up… there’s a lot of hatred toward people who aren’t nobility and even people who are lesser nobility. We’re both still trying to unlearn the things we were taught.”

Reni glares at Alina who’s stopped trying to shout over Nalia’s magic which mutes her. Reni silently urges Alina to nod along. 

Kezu slowly steps out of the doorway and into the room, her gaze still glued to Reni. “So… you were taught to hate people who aren’t as rich as you are. You don’t hate me then?” She asks, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her new shirt.

Reni urgently shakes her head, kneeling in front of Kezu. “No. No . I unlearned that bullshit years ago. But I also grew up in a duchy that values its working class more than Herbin does so I had less to unlearn,” Reni glances back at Alina and then at Nalia, nodding for her to release her magic. “I’m not trying to excuse her actions but Alina is trying .”

Kezu looks from Reni up to Alina skeptically, her jaw set. “If she’s really trying… she’s doing a pretty bad job of it,” she mutters, her grip on the edge of her shirt tightening.

“Hey—”

“Alina!” Reni hisses, glaring back at her for a moment. “I wholeheartedly agree with you, Kez.”

Kezu’s eyes widen, her eyes start to water. “That's what my brother used to call me,” she says, taking deep breaths, trying to force her tears away.

Reni’s gaze softens as she looks back at Kezu, noticing the tears gathering in her eyes and the tremble in her lower lip. She gently reaches up, placing a hand on Kezu’s chin to make her look her in the eye.

“Hey, it’s okay…” Reni murmurs, slowly rubbing a thumb over Kezu’s cheek.

Alina frowns for a moment. “You lost your brother?” She asks, not waiting for a response before continuing. “I can’t imagine what it’d be like to lose my older brothers or my younger sisters. I’m… very sorry for your loss.”

Kezu flinches at first, still on edge from the argument, but relaxes as she processes Alina’s words. She turns to look her in the eye, her gaze still cautious yet almost soft.

“You’re… sorry for my loss?” She asks, her lower lip trembling again.

“If I lost any of my siblings… hell if we lost Reni’s little brother, it’d be devastating. So yeah, I’m sorry for your loss,” Alina snaps, taking a breath after a moment, looking up at the ceiling of Reni’s office. “And I’m sorry for what I said about you.”

Nalia looks over at Alina like she grew a third head. “Reni, did Alina just apologize? ”

“I believe she did,” Reni says, smiling and nodding at Alina for a split second before returning her gaze to Kezu.

Kezu can’t help but let out a short half laugh, almost a scoff but not quite a mocking sound. She glances between Nalia and Alina, noticing Nalia’s look of disbelief. Kezu shakes her head, her voice shaky from her previous emotional outburst. “You Neletans are weird,” she mutters, shifting her gaze down and wiping the dampness at the corners of her eyes.

Reni stands, loosely crossing her arms over her chest.

“I am never apologizing for anything again,” Alina jokingly concludes, trying to force the smile from her lips. 

“And the world is back in order,” Nalia sighs, resting her head in her hand as she watches Reni with Kezu.

Kezu can’t help the small smirk that appears on her face. She looks back up at Reni, her previous anxiety replaced with cautious curiosity. She gently grabs Reni’s wrist, hesitantly running the tip of her fingers over the straps of her armor.

Reni smiles, watching Kezu inspect her leather armor like she did with Reni’s scars. Reni wouldn’t be surprised if Kezu did the same with Reni’s heavy armor on the manikin in her bed chamber. 

Kezu’s gaze flickers from Reni’s armor to Reni’s face, still gripping gently on Reni’s wrist as her fingers continue to trace the straps. “Is your armor always this shiny?” 

“I polish it before and after I use it,” Reni says, shaking her head. “It gets pretty dirty at the end of my shift so usually I wear the heavy metal armor you met me in. It’s easier to keep the metal looking clean and shiny than the leather.”

Alina forces herself to bite her tongue as she watches Kezu trail her fingers over Reni’s breastplate. She notices Nalia’s gaze shift from Reni and Kezu to her and she holds in a scoff. “I have a meeting to go to,” Alina lies, heading out the door before Reni has a chance to utter a goodbye.

Kezu flinches as the heavy doorway is slammed shut but otherwise ignores Alina, her attention still focused on Reni’s breastplate.

Nalia looks between Reni and Kezu again, silently studying both of their expressions before she too goes to leave. She gently shuts the door behind her with a soft click, leaving Reni and Kezu in privacy.

“Alina is pretty,” Kezu mutters, almost accusatory of Reni.

Reni’s gaze snaps from the door over to Kezu, a slightly confused look on her face. “What?” 

“The way she looked at you made it seem like something happened between you two,” Kezu snaps.

Reni frowns. Kezu shouldn’t care about what happens with Reni’s love life. She’s Reni’s ward, her trainee. Kezu is basically Reni’s little sister. 

Reni stares at Kezu for a moment before shaking her head. “Nothing ever happened with Alina and I.”

Kezu scoffs and rolls her eyes. “Nothing happened?” She asks, her gaze sharp like glass.

Reni sighs, running her hands through her hair with frustration. “Yeah. Nothing happened with me and Alina. We’re friends.”

“She looked at you and licked her lips! She was obviously thinking something about you and that something obviously happened between you two!”

“What does it matter, Kez? It’s my personal life!” 

“Because—” Kezu’s gaze drifts to the floor, her face heating as a blush rises through her face to the tips of her ears. “Because… it’s stupid…” 

“Talk to me,” Reni says, gripping Kezu’s chin and making her look up at Reni.

Kezu sucks in a shaky breath, trying to focus on anything but Reni’s touch on her chin. “It’s stupid… I know it’s stupid… I just… don’t want anyone else to…” she trails off, unable to articulate her thoughts, her grip on Reni’s wrist starting to tremble. “I want you!”

Reni’s stomach drops, the color draining from her face. She closes her eyes, taking a deep breath. “Oh, Kez,” Reni whispers, looking back down at Kezu. “I’m sorry.”

Kezu’s eyes brim with tears and she tries to pull her chin out of Reni’s grip. “Damnit, Reni, you—you don’t get it,” she says, her words coming out as choppy as her emotions. 

Reni cups both hands on Kezu’s cheeks, making her look up into Reni’s eyes again. 

“I’ve been alone my entire life and I can’t—” Kezu cuts herself off, taking a few deep breaths as she tries to calm her racing heart.

“I’m not leaving you, okay? But I don’t have the same feelings for you. I’m not leaving,” Reni promises.

“Damnit, Reni, stop being so sweet,” Kezu hisses, desperately trying to reign her words and emotions in. “You keep saying you’re not leaving, but you’re gonna find someone else! You’re gonna get into some relationship and I’ll be on my own!”

“Even if I get into a relationship, I will not leave you. I will always, always be here for you.”

“Bullshit,” the word escapes Kezu’s mouth in a sharp bite, her face red from the tears and her cheeks burning. “You’ll forget all about me as soon as you get into a damn relationship. All you’ll want to do is spend time with them!”

“Do you think I would abandon my little brother, Kezu?” Reni snaps, taking a breath to calm her voice. “I’m going to abandon you as much as I’m going to abandon him.”

“Your brother is family. You have actual obligations to him, not me,” Kezu snaps, wiping the stubborn tears from her face. “You don’t have any obligation to me.”

“I have more obligations to you as your teacher, mentor, and guardian than I have to Lium,” Reni says, brushing Kezu’s tears away. “He is my blood, yes, but you are just as important to me.”

Kezu pauses, frozen in shock. “You…” she stutters, her lower lip trembling. “You think of me the same as you think of your own brother?”

Reni nods. “If you’re scared you’ll be alone, I promise you, you won’t. You met Nalia a bit ago, I can tell she already adores you and would love to be your friend. Alina found a way to connect with you and she’ll probably be here for you. You and Sictus get along great. And I swear to you, you and Lium will get along wonderfully. There’s a ball in a couple months that he’ll be attending. You can meet him then, yeah?”

Kezu lets herself be drawn into Reni’s arms, slowly relaxing in Reni’s hold. She presses her face against Reni’s chest, letting herself be reassured by Reni’s words. “What if he hates me?” She mutters, her grip tightening on the soft fabric of Reni’s shirt.

“Lium doesn’t have the energy to hate a lot of people,” Reni says, softly laughing. “He’s too nice. That’s reserved for people like our father and Plantatos.”

Kezu lets out a shaky laugh, her knuckles turning white from gripping so tightly on Reni’s shirt. “What if he thinks I’m annoying?” She murmurs, her gaze remaining glued to the ground.

“You’re more likely to think he’s annoying.”

Kezu lets herself smile slightly despite the tears still streaming down her face. “Is he that bad?” She asks, her grip on Reni’s shirt loosening ever so slightly.

Reni snorts and shakes her head. “No, not at all. He just goes on and on about traditional practices and ceremonies. He’s always loved learning about Arivel’s culture,” Reni sighs, smiling softly at Kezu. “You two will get along wonderfully. I promise.”

Kezu slowly nods, letting herself relax completely against Reni’s chest. “I… okay, I’ll believe you,” she mutters, lifting her gaze from the floor to Reni’s face. “You’re… sure he’ll like me?”

Reni nods. “Of course he will. He’s my baby brother. And if he doesn’t,” Reni adds after a moment, “I’ll smack him over the head.”

Kezu sniffles, nuzzling her face against Reni’s leather chestplate for a moment. “Thank you… Reni.”

Notes:

Author’s Note: I am having some… technical difficulties with chapter 19. AKA I have writer's block. ‘Tis a shame. I think I’ve gone through like five drafts of it so far? It’ll be out… eventually… I hope.
Sincerely,
Archz
(2698 Words)

Chapter 22: Nineteen

Reni sits at her desk, head in her hands as she stares at the contract left for her by King Telus. She knew the Captain of Herbin's city guard was stepping down. What she didn't know was the fact that Captain Nevseco didn't select a replacement.

Now, King Telus wants Reni to temporarily be in command of both the royal and city guards of Herbin.

Kezu opens the door without knocking, plopping down in the chair nearest to her. She sighs, shifting in her armor, slightly damp with sweat. Her braids are coated in little flyaways which stick to her skin when they come in contact with each other.

Reni sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose. "I'm guessing training went well?" She says as she sits back in her chair.

"If 'going well' is getting my ass handed to me by Sictus and Maris," Kezu groans, rolling her shoulders and letting her head loll back, "then yes."

"I trained them myself, of course they're going to beat the shit out of you," Reni says, looking over Kezu, picking out all the imperfections in the way she cleaned her armor earlier that morning. "You need to work on your technique. Your armor has blotches."

Kezu groans, propping her feet up on Reni's desk. "I've been training my whole life! Why is it so different here than in Grent? I was always the best in Grent!"

"Get your dirty boots off my desk," Reni grumbles, folding her hands together and propping her elbows on her desk. "And Grent training is very different from the various branches of Neletan training."

Kezu groans, dropping her feet from Reni's desk. "It's still annoying," Kezu mumbles. "I can beat any of the other recruits in a few moves but any actual guard kicks my ass in about a minute."

Reni smiles to herself. "Most recruits take years before being able to last half a minute. You've been here for two and a half weeks and you can last a minute against my guards? That's pretty damn amazing, Kez."

"How long do you think it'll take me to be able to beat Sictus or Maris?" Kezu asks, shifting to find a more comfortable position.

Reni thinks for a moment. Sictus—her lieutenant and second in command—is one of the most skilled fighters in Herbin. He analyzes his opponent and changes his fighting style accordingly. He's a strategist at heart which is why he's Reni's lieutenant. Maris is one of Reni's sargents. She and Reni were recruits together. They were knighted together, long before any of the other recruits they started with. Maris is kind enough to be a good teacher but skilled and strict enough to be a good trainer.

Then there's Kezu. Within two weeks she's shown more promise than Reni did when she was a recruit. It helps that she grew up learning how to fight, even if it was a different style than any used in Neleta. Once Kezu is able to properly use Neletan styles of fighting, she can combine them. She'll be a force to be reckoned with, far greater than Reni will ever be.

"I'd say, a couple of months," Reni says, smiling. "You'll likely be knighted before then though. You've already completed half of the requirements for knighthood in Herbin."

"What else do I have to do?"

Reni grins. "Train."

"That's it?"

"That's what I can tell you."

Kezu laughs slightly, shaking her head. "You're ridiculous," she mumbles, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms over her chest. "I already spend half my day training. Shouldn't you at least give me a hint?"

Reni shakes her head. "That defeats the purpose of one of the requirements, the only one I can tell you about. You need to complete the requirements for knighthood without any extra guidance. You get training and classes but that's all we can do to help you. You have to do the rest of the work."

Kezu pouts slightly, leaning back in the plush chair and sighing. She glances down at her hands, running over the scars that litter her calloused knuckles and fingers. "I guess I'll work on it then," she grumbles, still pouting. "What's that?"

Reni glances down at the contract Kezu finally notices. She grimaces. "The Captain of the City Guard is stepping down and didn't select a replacement. King Telus wants me to temporarily head both the royal and city guards."

Kezu stares at the page for a moment before her gaze flicks to Reni. "You don't sound too happy about that," Kezu notes, crossing one leg over the other.

"I'm not," Reni sighs, pinching her brow.

Kezu shifts in her chair, fiddling with the loose ends of her braids. "Why is that?" She asks, cocking her head to the side.

"Because the royal and city guards are two very different things," Reni says, tapping her fingers on her desk. "I either personally selected and trained my guards or they were guards when I was in training. I know every one of my guards by name. I know what's going on in their lives; who has kids, who's married, who's from what city or town. There's too many city guards to know each of them. It's ten times the force I lead now."

Kezu hums, leaning her right elbow on the armrest of the chair and propping her chin up in her hand. "So it'd be like knowing all the residents of a small village compared to a big city," she says, fidgeting with the end of her braid.

Reni nods. "Basically," she sighs, frowning. "If I take this job, I won't have any time to train you."

"No! You can't! There has to be someone else! There—" Kezu cuts herself off by clamping her hand over her mouth.

"There isn't anyone else available, Kez," Reni says quietly. "I am the most qualified person for the position. The king trusts me."

Kezu bites her lip for a moment, keeping her gaze on Reni. "How long is temporarily? Like a week? Or a month?"

"A couple weeks, hopefully," Reni says, carefully observing the slight tremor in Kezu's lip. "I just need to find and train an adequate replacement."

"A couple weeks?" Kezu groans, her head collapsing into her hands. "Will I be able to see you at all during that time or are you just gonna disappear?"

"Your chambers are right next door to mine," Reni says, smiling despite her better judgment, "what do you think?"

"But you'll be too busy to even spend any time with me," Kezu whines, slumping in her chair.

Reni groans, resting her head in her hands. "Okay fine," she says after a moment. "Let's make a deal. You get to eat breakfast and dinner with me. Half an hour for each."

Kezu thinks for a moment before a small grin spreads across her face. "And lunch," she counters.

"Kez," Reni groans, glaring at Kezu, "I'll be spending lunch in the city."

"Then I'll come with you," Kezu says, tilting her chin up defiantly.

"Fuck," Reni mumbles under her breath. "Fine. I guess you could spend some time training you when I'm working in the city."

Kezu grins, leaning back in the plush chair. "I thought you'd see things my way," she says, crossing her legs and fidgeting with the loose ends of her braids again.

"You're a spoiled brat, Kez."

"Yeah, probably," Kezu grins, sticking her tongue out at Reni. "But who spoils me?"

"Nalia," Reni mutters, sighing. "And probably Alina too."

"And you," Kezu says, narrowing her eyes at Reni and smiling slightly. "You spoil me more than anyone else."

Reni groans. "Whatever," she sighs again, noticing something poking out of the collar of Kezu's gambeson when she shifts. "Is that a tattoo? When did you get a fucking tattoo?"

Kezu jolts, her right hand immediately fliting up to cover the tattoo. "Uh... A couple days ago?" She says, avoiding Reni's eyes.

From the looks of it, it isn't a small tattoo. Vines poke up, wrapping around Kezu's neck. Reni stands up, bracing her hands on her desk. "Take your armor off and show me the whole thing," she orders, gritting her teeth.

Kezu flushes, looking at the floor as she shrinks in on herself. "Reni, it's not exactly—"

"Now, Kezu."

Kezu nods, standing up to peel off her breastplate and gambeson. She pauses, flushing more as she pulls her undershirt off. The weaving garden of vines and flowers extend over the entirety of her collarbone, dipping below her chest binder, and back out over her stomach.

Right over Kezu's heart, is a statice flower with vines completely wrapping around it. All of the other flowers are only growing from the vines.

Reni vaguely remembers something Alina told her when they were younger, back when Alina wanted to be a florist. She said that statice flowers are the symbols of remembrance.

Reni steps around the desk, standing directly in front of Kezu. Her gaze drifts over the tattoo, pausing at the statice over her heart. Reni reaches up delicately, tracing one vine with her fingertips.

"Gardens are important in Grent," Reni mumbles, more to herself than Kezu. "Grentinite burial grounds are filled with flowers. Oh, Kezu."

Kezu stays frozen in place. "I never got to bury my brother. It started out as this," she says, tracing her fingers over the statice, "for him and then it got me thinking about all the other people I've lost and... it grew."

Reni continues to gently trace the intricate details of the flowers and vines, following certain vines from her collarbone down over her stomach. She reaches up, gently turning Kezu's chin up and forcing her to meet her eyes. "I would have taken you myself."

Kezu flushes, trying to look away even as Reni keeps her firmly in place. "It was a multi-day thing, you would have been busy—"

"I would have made time."

"Nalia helped! It's not like I found some place on my own," Kezu mumbles.

Reni's expression softens and she steps closer to Kezu, gently pulling Kezu's face to rest on her shoulder and wrapping her arms around her torso. "You could have told me," Reni says quietly, running her fingertips along Kezu's bare back.

"I thought you would disapprove," Kezu counters.

"Of something so meaningful to you? I know how much gardens mean in Grent. I'm sorry you thought you couldn't come to me for this," Reni mutters, closing her eyes so she doesn't cry. "I promise you, I will never disapprove of something like this."

Kezu sighs, closing her eyes and melting into Reni's hold. "I was worried you'd dislike it," she whispers, resting her cheek on Reni's shoulder.

Reni hums and gently runs her fingertips over the tattoo, tracing the outline of a vine that runs over her shoulder blade. "It's beautiful," Reni whispers. "Having a garden for your loved ones on yourself is so beautiful, Kez."

Kezu hums, burying her head into the crook of Reni's neck. Reni continues to run her fingertips over the ink, gently tracing the flowers and vines. They're silent for a while, content with the comfortable silence until Reni speaks again. "How bad did it hurt?"

"A fraction of how much it hurt to lose all of them," Kezu whispers, so softly Reni almost doesn't hear it.

Reni sighs, keeping her hand flattened on Kezu's back, rubbing gentle and comforting circles on her skin. "It still hurt though?" She mumbles.

Kezu nods, pressing her face further into Reni's neck.

"I'm glad Nalia was there for you," Reni mumbles, pressing her face into Kezu's hair.

"Me too," Kezu says, shifting her arms to grip onto Reni, staying like that for a moment. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Can I put my shirt back on now?"

Reni snorts, nodding. "Yeah, you can," she laughs, releasing her hold on Kezu.

Kezu pulls back, reaching for her undershirt and pulling it back over her head. She winces as it brushes her tender ink, pausing for a moment before she pulls her gambeson and breastplate back on.

After a while, Reni sits back in her chair, fondly looking at Kezu's small smile. "How's it been with Alina teaching you about Herbin's history?"

"Weird," Kezu says, frowning slightly. "In Grent, we don't focus on lineage or family names. Instead it's about who works the hardest. We knew that Neletans focus on blood and family history more but actually learning about it is exhausting."

Reni laughs, folding her hands on her desk and leaning forward. "That's a very Grentinite point of view," Reni says, her voice filled with amusement. Kezu hums and plops back down in the chair across from Reni, crossing her ankles and folding her hands in her lap.

"Well, I'm a Grentinite," Kezu says, shrugging. "We talked about your family yesterday. I can't believe your family has ruled Arivel since its founding."

Reni smiles. "Did Alina also tell you that Arivel has been around since before Herbin? It's been the longest standing duchy or kingdom on Neleta. Herbin is—of course—a close second."

"She may have mentioned it once or twice," Kezu says, a small smirk on her face. "She's incredibly proud of your family's roots."

Reni rolls her eyes, a fond look on her face, "I've known Alina far too long to be surprised at her obsession with history," Reni lets out an exasperated sigh. "I swear, she and my brother are so similar when it comes to history and traditions."

Kezu laughs and leans back in her chair. "They must be horrible to deal with at parties, huh? When they're off on tangents about the most inconsequential parts of history," she says, grinning.

"It's so much fun," Reni says, smirking as sarcasm coats her words. "I try to keep them separated."

Kezu lets out a hearty laugh, her head tossing back slightly. "I bet you do," she laughs, grinning at Reni. "Do they try to drag you into their little history rants often?"

Reni nods. "When we were younger, yeah," she says, her voice wistful as she remembers Alina and Lium spending hours in the library of either Herbin or Arivel, talking about various things Reni had no interest in.

Kezu hums, crossing her legs and tilting her head. "I'm sure they got annoying," she says. "I mean, I don't mind history but hearing about the same stuff all the time in excruciating detail gets old fast."

Reni nods. "I didn't mind it. I loved—I still love—watching Alina talk."

Kezu's smile falters for a moment. Her eyes flash with momentary jealousy that she quickly hides.

Reni pauses, her eyebrow raising slightly as she takes in the slight change in Kezu's expression. Kezu shakes her head and plasters a smile on her face again. "She's like a walking history book, huh?" Kezu says, her voice strained.

Reni leans forward, resting her folded hands on her desk and peering at Kezu. "You seem a little annoyed," she says carefully, her gaze roaming over Kezu's face, trying to see through the fake smile.

"Just tired," Kezu says, forcing herself to relax her forced smile. "I have an early morning. I should head to bed.

Kezu leaves before Reni can stop her, softly closing the door to Reni's office behind her.

Reni buries her face in her hands, groaning. "Dammit, Reni," she chastises herself, "do you have to be so stupid? You aren't exactly helping Kez get over her crush on you."

A very long moment later, Reni grabs her pen, signing the contract, marking her as the temporary Captain of the city guard.

Notes:

Author's Note: Once I figured out what I was doing with this chapter, it was really fun to write. When I started this project, I didn't really have any idea about how the actual world worked but as I've started writing it more I've built it up. I'll probably go back and update the earlier chapters and maybe even add some more.
Sincerely,
Archz
(2605 Words)

Chapter 23: Twenty

Kezu taps her foot, hand on her sword as she waits outside the door to Alina’s chambers. 

“Sorry,” Alina mumbles, stepping out into the hall.

Kezu frowns, picking at her appearance. Jostled hair, flushed cheeks, sweat dotting her forehead, the wrinkled dress, the slight hitch in her breath. 

“Busy?” Kezu asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, sure,” Alina says, threading her fingers through her hair.

Kezu bites down the bubbling anger in her gut. She knows Alina was alone. She knows that it shouldn’t matter. But the image of Alina pleasuring herself to the thought of Reni makes Kezu want to strangle Alina. 

Alina pauses for a moment outside her door, turning to look at Kezu. “Are you okay? You seem a little on edge.” 

Kezu grits her teeth down, balling her shaking hands into loose fists, trying to ignore the urge to grab Alina by her silky hair and slam her against the wall. It shouldn’t matter. Reni isn’t hers . “I’m fine,” Kezu says through gritted teeth.

Alina frowns, taking a step closer to Kezu. “You’re not fine,” she says, her voice soft, almost soothing. “You’re upset, I can see that much.”

Kezu lets out a shaky breath, taking a half step back. “It’s nothing,” she mutters, trying to keep herself calm. “Just pissed that Reni’s so busy now with the city guard.”

Alina shakes her head. “She told me you’ve been avoiding her for the past three days,” Alina says, placing a tender hand on Kezu’s shoulder. “She said she made a deal with you to eat all her meals with you but you haven’t shown up. So let's try this again; what’s wrong, Kezu?”

Kezu steps out of Alina’s reach, schooling her features. “You asked me to accompany you to your family’s meeting,” she says, not daring to look Alina in the eyes. “We wouldn’t want to keep them waiting.”

Alina sighs, shaking her head. “Kezu,” she says softly, stepping closer to Kezu. “Kezu, I know something’s bothering you—”

“It’s fine,” Kezu snaps, taking a step back. “It’s nothing you need to worry about, Princess.” 

Alina flinches at the bite in Kezu’s voice. “Don’t call me that,” Alina says, frowning. “I told you not to use my title when we aren’t around other nobles.”

Kezu grits her teeth, glaring at Alina’s feet. “Fine,” she says, her gaze snapping up to meet Alina’s eyes. “Fine, Princess .”

Alina steps towards her again. “What’s your problem?”Alina snaps. “I’ve been patient. I’ve been calm. But I can’t do that when you’re acting like this.”

“I just want to get through your stupid family meeting and listen to your stupid lecture about whatever history bullshit you want to teach me and then go be alone,” Kezu hisses, looking at Alina through a slightly narrowed gaze. 

“Fine,” Alina snaps, crossing her arms over her chest. “Be an angry little bitch, I don’t care. Come on.” 

Alina marches down the royal wing, right up to her father’s personal library. Kezu stares after her for a moment before following, a bitter glare on her face and her jaw clenched.

Alina storms in, not bothering to check if Kezu is following as she slides into her seat at the long wooden table in the center of the room. 

King Telus sits at the head of the table, frowning at Alina’s enraged entrance. Queen Elna sits directly opposite him. Alina’s older brothers—Vycious and Endrus—sit on the other side of the table with Vycious closer to their father and Endrus closer to their mother. 

Alina slides into her place across the table from Vycious, her younger sister Dreniana sits to Alina’s left—large wire framed glasses almost falling off Dreniana’s nose. Their youngest sister—Lylinia—sits on the other end of their side of the table, powdering her too pale cheeks. 

Kezu settles against the pillar a few feet behind Alina, quietly observing. 

Dreniana glances towards the pillar where Kezu stands, her gaze pausing on her for a moment, before looking away. Endrus notices Dreniana’s movement and follows her gaze, his dark eyes stopping on Kezu. His gaze slides over her, taking in her appearance. Kezu shifts under his intense glare.

King Telus clears his throat, forcing all attention to land on him. “Now that we are all here, we may start. Endrus, I would first like a report on how things have been faring in Arivel with our young Duke Lium.”

“In the past three weeks Lium has flourished in his role as the Duke of Arivel,” Endrus says, fiddling with the woven leather bracelet on his left wrist. “The advisors have grown a small sense of respect for him, though I suspect it’s because I’ve been there to guide Lium and minimize their influence on him. I’m very interested to see how the advisers act when I return to Arivel in a few days.”

King Telus nods, shifting his gaze to Vycious. “And how have negotiations with the western duchies and kingdoms of Neleta been? Have there been any additions to Herbin’s alliance?”

Vycious shakes his head, rubbing the dark circles under his eyes. Kezu frowns as she sees the slight beard he sports. In all the paintings and portraits of him that she’s seen, he’s always been clean shaven. 

“No father,” Vycious says, his voice slightly hoarse. “They’re actively encroaching on the outer provinces of our alliance.” 

King Telus grimaces but nods, marking that on his scroll. “That’s concerning. Please continue to try to negotiate a peaceful solution. We don’t need another war on our hands,” King Telus sighs, looking over at Lylinia. “How have your studies been in Novara?”

Lylinia shrugs, not bothering to look up. “Fine. Nothing fun or unusual to report,” she drawls, rolling her eyes. 

Queen Elna tuts, shaking her head. “Sit up straight and look at your father when you address him,” she says, glaring at her youngest daughter. 

Lylinia rolls her eyes again but doesn’t say anything else, instead glancing at Dreniana. “What about you, Dren?” Lylinia asks, sneering at her older sister. 

Dreniana shrugs, shrinking in on herself when all the eyes in the room land on her. “I’ve made progress under Archmage Nalia’s training,” she whispers, holding out her hand where several floating balls of light appear. 

Kezu raises her eyebrows. She’s known that Nalia has a few apprentices but she’s never seen any of them and didn’t expect one of them to be a Von Dawn. 

“And Alina,” Queen Elna says, an expectant smile spread across her lips, “how has the grand library been?”

Alina perks up a little, smiling for the first time since entering the room. “We’ve just gotten a new shipment of ancient tomes and scrolls from the far north. We’re working on translating them now.”

Queen Elna nods, pleased. “That’s good. I trust you’ll be able to find something interesting in there.” She looks over towards the pillar where Kezu is leaned against, frowning slightly. “Who are you?”

Kezu stands up straight, folding her hands at her sides exactly how Reni and Alina taught her. “I’m Captain Vel’s ward, Your Majesty,” Kezu says, desperately wishing she didn’t agree to come to this meeting. 

“Reni has a ward?” Endrus snorts, sharing a look with Vycious. 

Lylinia snickers, slapping her hand over her mouth. Dreniana flushes and looks away, awkwardly fidgeting with her glasses. King Telus shakes his head, the corners of his mouth tipped up ever so slightly. Queen Elna glares at her sons.

Alina speaks up, a sharp edge to her voice. “Yes, Reni has a ward. A ward she is incredibly fond of. So if you could refrain from saying anything rude and possibly offensive, that would be much appreciated.”

Kezu raises an eyebrow. She knows Alina’s defense is more for Reni’s sake than her own but it still feels somewhat validating for Alina to stand up for her. 

“And you’ve been helping, I assume?” Lylinia asks, grinning at Alina. “‘Oh Reni, how can I help you?’ ‘Oh Reni, please come spend time with me in the library.’ ‘Oh Reni, save me from this—’”

“Lylinia,” King Telus snaps, giving her a stern look. 

Lylinia crosses her arms over her chest and sinks back into her chair, glaring at Alina. “All I’m saying,” Lylinia mutters, “is that Ali is far too obsessed with Reni.”

Kezu holds down the laugh burning her chest and the smile daring to cross her face. Lylinia couldn’t have made a better impression of Alina. 

“Don’t talk about things you know nothing about,” Alina hisses, glaring at Lylinia from the other side of Dreniana. 

“I know plenty,” Lylinia sneers. “You’re obsessed with Reni and it’s getting a little pathetic.”

Alina grips the edge of the table, knuckles turning white as she clenches her fists. She opens her mouth to snap at Lylinia, but before she can, Lylinia continues. “I mean, you’ve had to have heard the rumors about Reni. They say she’s a—”

“Those rumors are—” Alina starts.

“She’s a slut,” Lylinia says, cutting Alina off. “Or at least that’s what the rumors say anyway.”

Kezu’s eyes flash with anger and she clenches her jaw, silently praying that no one notices the way her nails are digging into the skin of her palms. The words of Lylinia bounce around inside Kezu’s brain. She knows the words shouldn’t bother her. It’s just a rumor. A simple, passing comment.

“What the Captain does in her free time is of no concern of ours,” King Telus says, slamming his hand on the table. 

“Oh really?” Lylinia asks, leaning forward so that her elbows rest on the edge of the table. “You don’t care that the Captain is known for casually sleeping around?”

Kezu’s blood boils under her skin, bubbling like molten lava and threatening to blow at any minute. She forces her breathing to remain even and bites her lip hard enough to draw blood.

“I do not care,” King Telus says, his eyes flashing as he glares at Lylinia. “Reni is a very capable woman and a loyal knight. What she does in her free time is of absolutely no concern to me, let alone what rumors about her might say.”

Lylinia leans back in her chair, sneering as she crosses her arms over her chest. 

 “Even if the rumors are true?”

“She is a hero,” King Telus snaps, anger darting across his face for a moment before he schools it. “She has saved you, your siblings, myself, and your mother more times than I can count. What she does in her personal time has no effect on her performance as Captain and therefore it is of no concern to me.”

Alina’s head spins to look at her father, surprise painting her face. Her entire life, her father has never once defended Reni. Sure, he’s praised her, and publicly acknowledged her actions, however he’s never gotten so angry at someone for saying bad things about her. 

Lylinia scoffs. “I think it would benefit Alina to be aware of who she spends her time with. Especially with her obvious feelings,” she mutters. 

“I do not have feelings for Reni!” Alina screeches, her chair clattering to the floor in front of Kezu as Alina flies to her feet.

“So you’d be willing to have a brideshow?” Lylinia asks, her lips curling up in a cruel smile. 

“Yes!” Alina snarls, glaring at her younger sister.

Kezu frowns. A brideshow isn’t something that happens in Grent. She’s heard of it, barely. She knows it’s some stupid Neletan custom but nothing more than that. But for Alina to so vehemently deny her obvious feelings?

“Enough of this,” King Telus snaps, pinching his brow. “Herbin has not had a brideshow in generations and I will not restart such a terrible tradition. Lylinia, leave your sister be. She can marry whomever she wishes, whenever she wishes and we will support her decision.”

Lylinia sinks back into her chair with a huff, mumbling under her breath. Her face is tinged red. 

Dreniana glances back at Kezu, her gaze lingering for a moment before she looks away, returning to quietly staring at the table with a blank expression.

“Now, let’s get back to more important matters,” King Telus says, folding his hands on the table.

Notes:

Author’s Note: I’m trying to get over my burnout from the end of school so updates are going to be a little slow. I should get some art out in the meantime though!
Sincerely,
Archz
(2033 Words)

Chapter 24: Twenty-One

“Reni would never,” Alina mutters as she paces back and forth in her room. “What would it matter if she did?”

Alina groans, falling onto her bed with her face in her hands. Her head throbs. She shouldn’t have stolen that bottle of wine on her way back to her room.

 “It’s not like she’s mine. I’m not even the person she was betrothed to. It doesn’t matter. It shouldn’t matter,” Alina says. 

Alina's stomach twists at the passing thought of Dyla. She was friends with Alina and Reni when they were little. Dyla’s mother was a marquess ruling their family’s march on the northern border of Arivel’s outskirts. 

Reni’s father and Dyla’s mother betrothed their eldest children to ensure Dyla’s mother wouldn’t help the kingdom on the other side of the border which—at the time—was particularly keen on claiming Arivel’s land. 

When Reni and Alina were ten and Dyla was eleven, there was a fire in the forest surrounding Dyla’s family’s estate. The entire family was killed in the fire and it consumed the estate they’d been cultivating for three generations. 

Alina remembers the ceremony—the same one Reni missed for her father—was beautiful and long and so incredibly quiet but she doesn’t remember much else. She was too busy watching Reni’s broken silence. 

Alina still catches Reni carrying cherry blossom leaves from the garden into her office every time the trees bloom. The broken look behind Reni’s shielded gaze is more prominent when she carries the light pink leaves Dyla fashioned crowns out of. 

Alina still hates the burning notion that without Dyla alive, Reni is technically free to marry whoever she wants now. 

“It’s not like I’m Dyla,” Alina mumbles. “Reni isn’t my fiancé. She can fuck whoever she wants.”

Still, the thought of Reni with someone else makes Alina want to scream. She can’t block out the nagging suspicions of who Reni has been with. Vera. Nalia. Trouvo. So many other nobles and merchants and maybe even guards—though Alina truly doubts Reni would screw around with anyone she commands.

Alina forces herself to sit up and face her door as Reni’s tell-tale knock echoes through her room. “Come in, Captain,” Alina says, trying to keep her voice level. 

“Lett said you needed me,” Reni says, her face slightly flushed, sweat dotting her brow.

The door closes behind Reni as she steps into Alina’s chambers. Alina almost laughs, her stomach bouncing around the room like a child let loose in a bakery. Reni looks so pretty like that. 

Reni pauses, tilting her head as she looks at Alina, her expression tinged with concern. “Are you okay?”

Alina hums in response, shifting to the edge of her bed. Her fingers toy with the edges of her sheets, pulling at the fabric to distract herself from the sweat making Reni’s undershirt cling to her body under her armor.

“You look like you ran here,” Alina mumbles, eyes not quite making it to Reni’s face, instead hovering at Reni’s collarbone. 

“I did,” Reni says, pulling her eyes away from Alina’s. “Lett said it was serious so I left right away.”

“That meddling—” Alina cuts herself off with a sigh. “Lett was exaggerating. It’s not serious, Lylinia just pissed me off at the family meeting today. I sent him to get you because you’re my best friend.”

“Again?” Reni asks, letting out a chuckle as she walks towards the bed, unbuckling her armor. “Lylinia really needs to stop being so…well Lylinia.”

Alina smiles weakly as she watches Reni shrug out of her armor, leaving her in her sweat soaked undershirt and black pants.

Reni pauses before sitting on the edge of the bed, turning to look at Alina. “What did she do this time?”

“She said you’re a slut,” Alina says, looking anywhere but Reni. “‘Said you whore yourself out for anyone who wants you.”

Alina almost mentions the other thing Lylinia said—about Alina having feelings for Reni—but shuts it down. It’s not like Lylinia is wrong about that particular thing, Alina just isn’t ready to admit it to anyone else yet. 

Reni looks at the wall, sighing as she shifts slightly farther from Alina. It makes Alina desperately want to tackle Reni back onto the bed and bury her face in Reni’s neck, breathing in the smell of sweat and metal and oil which she’d hate on anyone else.

“I see,” Reni says softly, still staring at the wall.

A cruel and somewhat self-indulgent idea hits Alina. She looks at Reni from the corner of her eye, biting her lip as her heart starts to race.

“Reni,” Alina says, placing her hand on Reni’s shoulder, turning her to look at her. “How long has it been since you’ve been with someone?”

“Um…” Reni pauses, glancing up at Alina with her face flushed. “Nineteen days.”

“You…” Realization dawns on Alina. 

That was the night. The night. The night they made out. Alina was drunk, sure, but she didn’t think she was drunk enough to not remember sleeping with her best friend. Reni adamantly said no, even when Alina begged. 

The memory of herself begging for Reni to touch her makes Alina cringe. She sucks a deep breath in. “The last ball? The one that we left early from and… made out in, in this very bed? Did we?”

“No! No. We just made out and then you passed out. You were clinging to me so I couldn’t leave.”

“So when did you… did you sleep with someone before that?” Anger flares in Alina’s stomach, clawing up her throat. “Dead below, it was Trouvo, wasn’t it? That’s why you both disappeared and then came back together.”

“Fine, yes!” Reni hisses, frowning when she sees the anger in Alina’s eyes.

Alina feels like the air was kicked out of her. She knows what's going on here. It isn’t a big deal. She has no claim to Reni. Reni can sleep with whoever she wants. It doesn’t matter. It shouldn’t matter.

Suddenly, Alina’s brain snaps back into focus. A cruel little idea forming. 

“How many people?” Alina asks, the words almost bitter on her tongue.

“You want to know my body count?” Reni asks, scoffing.

“Yes, I do,” Alina snaps, leaning closer to Reni with a glare, her mind working a mile a minute.

“Sixteen,” Reni says, leaning away from Alina, trying to keep some space between them.

“Sixteen. You’ve slept with sixteen people?” Alina bites down the urge to yell.

Reni narrows her eyes, shifting as Alina leans closer. “Yes, I have,” she says, her eyes flashing. “Why? Does that bother you?”

Alina’s blood boils as she moves to kneel on the bed behind Reni. “Maybe it does.”

“It shouldn’t,” Reni snaps, moving to get up, but Alina grabs her arm, pulling her back onto the bed.

Alina’s body buzzes with the irrational need to do something she’ll probably regret. She has no claim to Reni, none at all. But she can’t stand the thought of someone else—anyone else—being allowed this close to Reni. She can’t stand thinking about anyone but herself having Reni like this. 

“Why not?” Alina asks, her hand drifting towards Reni’s hip.

“I can sleep with whoever I want,” Reni mutters, trying to push Alina away. “It’s my life.”

Alina’s nails dig into Reni’s hip as she moves to sit behind Reni, pulling Reni against her. “Yeah, it is your life. But you’re my best friend.”

Alina’s hand slips under Reni’s undershirt, sliding up her stomach to the edge of her chest binder. Reni inhales sharply, relaxing into Alina, her head lolling back onto Alina’s shoulder. 

Alina almost feels guilty for using Reni’s weakness for her. She knows Reni is almost hyper responsive to touch. She knows Reni’s craving it. She’s known for most of their lives.

Reni closes her eyes, shifting her hips against Alina’s lap with a soft, needy whine. “Alina, what are you doing?”

Alina leans down, pressing her nose against Reni’s neck, breathing in her scent. “I don’t know…” she mumbles, her hand moving over Reni’s chest. “I just don’t like the thought of other people having you like this.”

“Like this?” Reni asks, her body trembling as Alina’s fingers ghost over her chest.

“Compliant and needy, at the mercy of anyone who touches you like this,” Alina mutters, pressing a gentle kiss to Reni’s neck.

“But, Ali, why? It’s not like you—” Reni gets cut off when Alina trails her kisses up Reni’s neck and along her jaw.

Alina gently turns Reni’s head so they look each other in the eyes. “It’s not like I what?”

“You’re supposed to fall for some prince or princess and marry them and live a happy life together,” Reni mumbles, staring at Alina’s lips. “I can’t—”

“You are a princess, Reni Vel.”

“In the eyes of—”

“Yeah, yeah,” Alina grumbles, rolling her eyes. “The court forgets you’re a Vel. I’m well aware.”

“But you know what I mean,” Reni says, her back arching as Alina’s hand wanders higher, fingertips brushing underneath Reni’s chest binder. “You’re not supposed to do this with me.”

“What’s your next bullshit excuse, hmm?” Alina hums, squeezing Reni’s breast through her chest binder. 

“I’m not making excuses,” Reni mumbles, trying to suppress a whine growing in her throat.

Something in Reni’s brain clicks. There’s a hint of wine on Alina’s breath. Her cheeks are flushed. Reni’s stomach drops. She pulls away from Alina, standing up and holding up her hands to stop Alina from grabbing her. “You’re drunk, Alina,” Reni snaps, scowling.

Alina frowns, her hand grabbing at Reni’s hip, trying to keep her close. “I am not —”

Reni bats Alina’s hands away and moves to stand out of reach. “You are, too. I can smell the wine on your breath, and you’re flushed, and your eyes are glassy, and you’re all over me—”

“Oh yes,” Alina snaps, crossing her arms over her chest, “because one of the symptoms of alcohol consumption is being attracted to you.”

“Alcohol makes you act impulsively, it’s a depressant,” Reni argues, her hands curled into fists. “You wouldn’t even be considering this if you weren’t drunk.”

“Don’t you dare say that, Reni Vel,” Alina hisses, gripping her biceps to keep from doing something wildly stupid like punching or kissing Reni. “You have no idea what I want.”

“Yes, I do,” Reni snaps, glaring at Alina. “You don’t want me, you want this,” Reni motions to her body as she shifts toward her armor piled on the floor. “You’re attracted to me— sure —but you want my body. Not me .”

Maybe, Alina thinks, regret plummeting through her body, Reni doesn’t have feelings for me after all. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe everyone was wrong.

Alina walks towards Reni, looking her up and down with a glare. “You don’t want me, do you? You don’t want me for anything besides my friendship, right?”

“I can’t do this right now,” Reni grumbles, grabbing her armor and putting it on as she stomps toward the door. 

“Are you serious?” Alina asks, stalking after Reni. “You’re just going to—”

Reni stops and whirls to look at Alina, a scowl on her face. “You’re drunk, Alina! I’m not going to do this right now. I’m not going to be a mistake you regret.”

“So, what, you just fuck anyone else when they’re drunk but you won’t with me? Do you really not want me that much, Reni?” 

“This isn’t a ‘not wanting you’ thing!” Reni snaps, her jaw clenched and her hands shaking slightly. “You are my best friend, and I won’t let you do anything you might possibly regret because you’re drunk.”

“Don’t act like I’d regret a night with you,” Alina scoffs.

“You probably would!”

“Why? Because you think I don’t actually want you, and am just making a mistake?” Alina’s voice snaps, her hands balling into fists at her sides. “Because you think I’ll sleep with you and then pretend we never happened?”

“Exactly, Alina,” Reni snaps, glaring down at Alina with so much anger it makes Alina stop in her tracks. 

Alina’s heart thumps wildly in her chest as Reni stares at her. “You…you really don’t trust me at all, do you?” Alina asks, her eyes softening as she looks at Reni.

“No,” Reni snaps. “No, I do trust you. I trust you with my life but not my heart.”

Alina’s head snaps up, her eyes going wide, a bitter laugh escaping her mouth. “You trust me, but you couldn’t possibly love me, could you? Never in a million years,” Alina mumbles, shaking her head as her hands clench into fists.

Reni shakes her head, sighing as she looks up at the ceiling. “I can’t do this,” she mutters, grabbing the door handle and twisting. 

Alina’s hand shoots out, catching Reni’s wrist, not letting her leave. “No,” she mutters, her voice desperate and pleading. “Don’t—”

Reni yanks her wrist away from Alina’s grasp and storms out, slamming the door behind her. Alina sighs, sinking to her knees. “Dammit!” Alina shouts, punching the floorboards as tears fall freely down her face. “Dammit, Re!”

Notes:

Author’s Note: I’ve gotten ahead on chapters and I have a bunch more planned out so we’ll be back to our regularly scheduled posts every few days.
Sincerely,
Archz
(2179 Words)

Chapter 25: Twenty-Two

“Reni!” Alina shouts, staring at herself in the floor length mirror, adjusting her dress. 

Reni stumbles into the bathroom, her simple metal armor clanging as she runs into the door frame. “Hey,” Reni says, readjusting her armor as she stares at the bright red dress Alina wears. “What do you need?”

Alina snorts, turning to look at Reni, her head slightly tilted. “You’re still not used to the armor, are you?” She asks, walking up to Reni, adjusting the chestplate so it’s straight again. “You look uncomfortable.”

“This is different from castle guard armor,” Reni mumbles. “I spent a little over a year in that armor. I don’t like this. It’s heavier.”

“Well you look amazing,” Alina mumbles, one hand still on Reni’s chestplate while the other drifts up to her cheek. “I can’t believe you’re my guard. My personal guard is my best friend.”

“Why did you call me in here, Ali?” Reni asks, gently grabbing Alina’s wrist and pulling it from her face. 

“I want your opinion on this dress,” Alina says, stepping back and twirling. “What do you think?”

Reni nods, her fingers twitching at her sides, itching to do something, anything . She desperately wants to push a stray strand of hair behind her ear or fidget with her armor or do something to distract herself from the burning desire to pull Alina into her arms and kiss her until neither of them can breathe.

“You look beautiful, Ali,” Reni says plainly, eyes focusing on the slit going straight down Alina’s left leg. 

Alina grins, taking a step back. “I’m glad. You know, I was wondering about something,” She slowly lifts the hem of her dress, raising it higher and higher. “Is this too short?”

“What are you doing, Alina? ” Reni hisses, looking away. “Are you trying to get me fired? It’s only my first week as your personal guard.”

“Oh nonsense,” Alina says, dropping the fabric and stepping back up to Reni, wrapping her arms around Reni’s neck. “We both know my parents love you. They’d never fire you. Especially when you’ve already saved my life three times.”

Reni rolls her eyes, wrapping her arms around Alina’s hips and gently lifting her. Reni spins, smiling as Alina giggles, pressing her face in Reni’s neck.

“You’re a pain, Ali,” Reni says, setting Alina down. 

Reni sucks in a sharp breath when Alina’s face remains close to hers, their lips almost touching when Alina pulls back from Reni’s neck to look at her. 

Alina smiles, her fingers running through Reni's hair, messing up the braids Reni had tried to keep tidy. Her fingers twine in the deep red curls, grabbing a loose strand and twirling the hair around her finger. 

Alina’s eyes focus on Reni’s lips, her own parted slightly, before she lifts her gaze to look into Reni’s hazel eyes again. Her head tilts, a smirk forming on her lips. “I've been wondering…” Alina murmurs, her fingers tracing a line down Reni’s neck. “Would you be my date to the ball tomorrow? Vy and Rus think I’m too old to go alone and apparently our parents agree.”

Reni snorts, rolling her eyes. “Are you sure they aren’t making that up?”

Alina shrugs. “Even if they are, I think they’re right. If I go with a date, there’s less of a chance of some predatory asshole trying something.”

“So you want your date to be your guard?”

Alina shakes her head, lightly smacking Reni’s armored shoulder. “No, I want my date to be my best friend.”

“My Captain won’t like it,” Reni mumbles.

“Well that’s too bad,” Alina whispers. “You’re my guard and you do what I tell you to do.”

Reni raises an eyebrow, smirking. “And what if I say no?”

“ Tsk. Tsk. You don’t get to say no, Reni,” Alina says, smiling up at Reni.

Reni rolls her eyes. “Is it required that I go with you? Like, for my job or something?”

“No, silly, it’s required because you’re my best friend, not for your job.”

Reni rolls her eyes, sighing. “Fine,” she relents. “I’ll go with you to the ball.”

Alina grins, letting out a small sound of triumph. “I knew you would,” She says, poking Reni in the chestplate.

Reni grabs Alina’s wrist. “Don’t test your luck with me right now. I’m not happy about this.”

Alina pouts with a disappointed whine. “Why not? You’ve never hated balls before. What’s so different about going with me?”

Reni glances down at her hand still holding her wrist. “Because you don’t need me to go with you,” Reni mumbles. “You could go with one of your other friends, instead of bringing your guard.”

“You are not going as my guard, Reni Vel,” Alina says, gently pulling her wrist from Reni’s grip. “You’re going as my best friend.”

Reni nods, looking down at her feet. Alina gently lifts Reni’s chin. “You don’t need to be so tense, you know? It’s just a dance.”

“Everyone will be watching. They’ll think we’re getting together. The rumors—”

“Vy and Rus will handle the rumors, Reni. Would you rather go as my guard and stand there in this armor, watching from a distance?”

Reni shakes her head. “No.”

Alina smiles, leaning up to press a kiss against Reni’s cheek. “So it’s settled,” she says, patting Reni’s shoulder, “you’re my date.”

 

– – – – –

 

“And you agreed to this?” Nalia asks, helping Reni into the leather armor she was instructed to wear under her dress uniform. 

“Yes,” Reni snaps, glaring at Nalia over her shoulder. 

“Seriously?” Nalia snaps back, pulling one of the straps of Reni’s armor slightly too tight. “This stupid ball is for me! It’s to celebrate my consecration as Archmage! We were supposed to go together, Reni!”

Reni frowns, turning around so that she can see Nalia better. “You’ve always said you hated balls,” Reni points out. “And you always leave early.”

“I do but it’s not like I can skip this one!” Nalia snaps. 

Reni rolls her eyes. “This isn’t even about the ball, is it? This is about the fact that I have to go with Alina instead of you.”

Nalia scoffs. “You know, you’d think you’d be a little more reliable. I mean, you could have told Alina that you already had plans to go with me to my ball thrown for me because I’m the youngest Archmage in Herbin’s history.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re eighteen and sitting up in that fancy tower,” Reni says sarcastically, rolling her eyes again. “Shall I bow to you, oh mighty Archmage?”

Nalia grins, pulling at a strap. “Actually, that would be nice.”

Reni turns and mockingly bows as soon as the straps of her armor are tightened. “Forgive me, oh great Archmage, for I am unable to disobey a direct order from a princess.”

Nalia laughs, tossing her hand up in dismissal. “What a good little guard dog you are,” she mutters.

“I am sorry, you know,” Reni says, standing up straight again and fiddling with a strand of Nalia’s long hair. “I couldn’t say no to her. She ordered me.”

“You wouldn’t be able to say no to her even if it wasn’t an order.”

Reni frowns. “I’m not that bad, am I?”

“Trust me,” Nalia says, brushing a stray curl back behind Reni’s ear, “you’re worse than that.”

Reni lets out a sigh, resting her head against Nalia’s shoulder. “I hate you.”

Nalia gently massages Reni’s neck with one hand, the other braced on Reni’s armored side. “You know, I’ve been experimenting with a type of spell I think might help you with your… obsession with Alina.”

“I’m not obsessed!” Reni squeaks.

“No, I’m sorry,” Nalia says sarcastically, gripping the nape of Reni’s neck and making Reni look her in the eyes. “You’re right, you’re not obsessed. You just screw around with your friends because you like it, right? Not because you desperately need a distraction so you don’t drown in your feelings for her.”

Reni turns bright red, averting her eyes from Nalia. Nalia sighs, cupping Reni’s chin in one hand, making Reni look at her again. “I have an idea for a spell that could help you,” she repeats.

“What would it do?” Reni whimpers. 

“It would completely remove any romantic feelings for Alina,” Nalia says softly. “No more hopeless pinning. No more sleeping with seven different people—or however many you’ve been with lately. No more hurting.”

Reni swallows hard, looking away again. Nalia gently pushes Reni’s chin up, making her look at her again. “It would be simple and effective.”

“Not a chance, Nalia,” Reni hisses, taking a step away from Nalia. 

“So, what?” Nalia snaps back. “You’re just going to open your legs for whoever wants you? Just for a moment of reprieve? You can’t possibly think that’s a better solution!”

Tears soak the collar of Reni’s armor. She wipes her face, sniffling to try to stop crying to no avail. Nalia curses under her breath, cupping Reni’s cheeks and wiping away Reni’s tears. “Dead below, I’m sorry,” Nalia whispers, pressing Reni’s face into her shoulder. “I shouldn’t have said that. I forget you’re still just a kid.”

“I’m two years younger than you,” Reni says, trying to hold in sobs as she wraps her arms around Nalia’s waist, “I’m hardly a kid.”

“You’re sixteen, Reni,” Nalia whispers. “You’re still a kid.”

“So are you,” Reni says into Nalia’s shoulder. “You’re barely an adult.”

“I’m still older than you, Re,” Nalia snorts, rolling her eyes.  

Reni huffs, nuzzling her face into Nalia’s neck. “Yeah, yeah,” she mutters. “You’re two whole years older than me. How special.”

“Do you need a reminder of what I’ll be doing after tonight?” Nalia asks sarcastically, tapping her index finger against the corner of Reni’s lips.

“No,” Reni whispers, her tears virtually stopped as she looks up at Nalia. “It’s not like I can forget. It’s all you’ve been talking about, Madam Archmage .”

“And for good reason,” Nalia mutters, flicking a curl out of Reni’s face.

“I know , Nalia,” Reni grumbles. “You’re the youngest Archmage in Herbin’s history. And you’re a commoner. You’re a natural born prodigy. You’re amazing.”

Nalia snorts. “Says the princess who was knighted after just six months of training. Next thing we know, you’ll be Captain.”

“I don’t want to be Captain,” Reni mutters, fiddling with a strand of Nalia’s hair.

“Too much responsibility?” 

“Too much work.”

“Same thing, Re,” Nalia snorts, shaking her head slightly.

“Whatever,” Reni mumbles.

 

– – – – – 

 

“Where’d you go, Re,” Nalia asks, bumping her shoulder against Reni’s.

Reni glances up at Nalia, perched on the edge of her desk as Reni does paperwork. “Thinking about your consecration.”

“Why?” Nalia asks, fiddling with the soft fabric of her Archmage’s robes. “You hate thinking about that night.”

Reni shrugs. “Kez has been avoiding me. I don’t know what to do about her.”

“So you’re thinking about the time you started avoiding me,” Nalia snorts. “Just talk to the kid, Reni.”

“It’s not that simple. She knows my schedule. She knows how to avoid me.”

“Reni, you’re the fucking captain of the royal and city guards,” Nalia says, gripping Reni’s chin between her thumb and forefinger and making Reni look up at her. “You can make your knight in training talk to you.”

“Okay, okay,” Reni whispers, pulling herself from Nalia’s grasp. “I got it.”

Notes:

Author’s Note: A little bit of a weirder chapter, I guess? I wanted to try showing the past as opposed to just talking about it. I’m not sure how much I like it lol.
Sincerely,
Archz
(1887 Words)

Chapter 26: Twenty-Three

“Kez!” Reni snaps, bracing both hands on the door frame of Kezu’s chambers to keep her from exiting. “I’m sick of this childish bullshit! We made a deal to eat together and you’ve been avoiding me, for what?”

Kezu jumps, her fist flying straight for Reni’s face. Reni grabs Kezu’s wrist, stopping her surprised attack. “Dead below! Reni!” Kezu snaps, yanking her hand from Reni’s ironclad grasp. 

“I don’t have the patience for bullshit right now,” Reni snaps, crossing her arms over her chest.

Alina flashes in her mind. Just moments ago, begging her not to leave, begging Reni to believe her. Reni grits her teeth, clenching her biceps so hard her metal armor creaks. 

Kezu looks at Reni for a moment, studying her. Her face softens, the glare in her eyes fading as her body deflates, any anger in her eyes slipping away. 

“You look like a wreck,” Kezu says, gently reaching up to tilt Reni’s head from side to side, examining her. “Come on. Come sit with me, Re.”

Reni sighs and lets Kezu pull her into the room, dropping onto the bed with a thud. Kezu sits down next to Reni, crossing her legs and pulling Reni’s head down to rest on her lap. Reni doesn’t protest when Kezu starts running her fingers through Reni’s tangled hair.

“Talk to me, Reni,” Kezu murmurs, frowning at how easy it is to get Reni to relax. “You’re acting weird. I’ve never seen you like this.”

Reni closes her eyes, adjusting slightly. “I just…” Reni sighs, opening her eyes and sitting up, staring Kezu in the eyes. “Why have you been avoiding me, Kez?”

Kezu looks at the door, drumming her fingers on her knees. “Last time we talked, you were gushing about Alina. I know she’s your best friend or whatever and I know you’re in love with her,” Kezu says. “But we both know how I feel about you. It’s hard to listen to, okay Reni? I hate it!”

Reni sighs, leaning forward and resting her head on Kezu’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Kez,” she mumbles. “You know I don’t have feelings for you. I’ll never have feelings for you. You’re my ward. I’m supposed to take care of you. You’re basically my baby sister.”

Kezu huffs, rolling her eyes, but doesn’t push Reni away. “I know. I know, and I’m not trying to make you. I just wish you wouldn’t go on and on about Alina. It’s annoying.”

“I’ll try and tone it down,” Reni mumbles, trying to hold back the tears she didn’t completely realize she’s been suppressing for who knows how long.

“I’ve never seen you like this before,” Kezu whispers, gently rubbing Reni’s scalp. “You look… younger than usual.”

Reni sniffles, a few tears escaping her desperate hold. “Yeah, well I don’t give a damn.”

“What’s wrong?” Kezu murmurs, shifting Reni’s head so it’s buried in her neck instead of resting on her shoulder. “Is it Alina?”

Reni lets out a shaky laugh interwoven with broken half-sobs. “It’s everything,” she whispers into Kezu’s neck. “Alina, my father, Lium, Plantatos, the rumors, the city guard. Everything .”

Reni can’t imagine how weak she looks. She doesn’t want to imagine it. She’s supposed to be strong. She’s the Hero of Herbin! She’s one of the most decorated captains in Herbin’s history. She’s not supposed to break apart. 

“Oh Reni,” Kezu whispers, trying her hardest to use the same tone Reni does when Kezu can’t handle the burden of the loss of her home and family and friends. 

“Don’t. I know how weak I look right now. Just don’t say anything.”

Kezu sighs. “In Grent, strength doesn’t mean you’re a tall, hulking, muscular warrior,” Kezu says, poking Reni’s body. “It means you know when to rely on others to hold you up. This, what you’re feeling, means you’ve been strong for yourself for too long. Sometimes you need to let your loved ones hold you up and be strong for you.”

Reni laughs through her tears as Kezu pokes her side. It feels more like a desperate sob. Kezu is right. Reni hasn’t had anyone to rely on for so long. It all feels like too much. She just wants to be able to curl up with someone and let them take over for a little bit. 

Reni wants Alina.

Alina who just drunkenly tried to screw Reni. Again . Alina, who is kind and bright and a bit of a smartass. Alina, the smartest person Reni has ever met, rivaled only by Lium and Nalia. Reni knows Alina didn’t mean what she said while drunk, but it still hurts like a burning knife to the heart.

Reni wants to run away and find Alina and let her hold her. Reni wants Alina to grab her and pin her against the nearest wall, to hold her and kiss her and touch her with a desperate want and need. Reni wants to curl up next to Alina and fall asleep with Alina’s fingers in her hair and have Alina keep her nightmares at bay. Reni wants Alina to be the one to protect her for once. She doesn’t want to be the Hero of Herbin who the people rely on. She wants to be Reni, someone who Alina is happy to see and wants to hug and hold.

But Alina doesn’t want her. Not really. 

Sure, Alina thinks Reni is pretty. And sure, Alina looks at her a little too long. But Alina looks at every one she deems attractive a little too long.

Alina doesn’t want the scared girl whose body is full of scars and nightmares and trauma and who wakes from her dreams every night, screaming in pain.

Alina wants someone who is happy and kind and sweet and unmarred.

Reni is many things but she is most definitely not happy, sweet, and unmarred. 

Reni knows Alina is going to end up with someone sweet, and pretty, and innocent. Maybe a Prince or a Princess from another kingdom. They’ll have a huge wedding with a giant feast and a big party. Reni will watch on the sidelines with an empty smile. The entire time, her heart will break. And Reni will be happy for Alina. Because Reni wants Alina to be happy. 

It doesn’t matter how many times Reni catches Alina watching her with an unreadable expression in her eyes or how many times Reni catches Alina looking down her shirt with her bottom lip worried between her teeth. Alina wants someone sweet and pure and happy and unmarred. Not someone like Reni, who is scarred both mentally and physically, damaged beyond repair, a broken toy who’s good for nothing but combat. 

Reni is sharp edges and broken pieces. Alina needs someone soft. Reni will never be soft. She’s a blade sharpened for war, armor damaged beyond repair. She’ll never be sweet or soft again.

Alina wants a prince or princess. Not the Hero of Herbin who is covered in blood and scars and nightmares. Alina deserves a prince or princess and Reni stopped being a princess the moment she took that poisoned dagger to protect Alina. Alina deserves someone better than Reni. Someone gentle and kind who doesn’t wake up in a cold sweat every night. Someone who’s never killed another person. Someone who’s never seen war.

“Reni,” Kezu whispers, gently nudging Reni so she looks up at Kezu.

Kezu frowns, brushing away the tears staining Reni’s skin. Kezu looks at Reni with broken understanding. “I don’t know what’s going through your head right now,” she whispers as she gently kisses Reni’s forehead, “but I’ve got you.”

Reni sniffles, burying her face in the crook of Kezu’s neck once again. “Can I ask you a question?” she mumbles.

Kezu nods, running her fingers through Reni’s hair once more. “Of course. Anything, Reni.”

Reni closes her eyes, taking a deep breath, fighting the sobs still bubbling in her throat. “Why don’t you hate me for not being able to love you back?”

Kezu pauses, her fingers stilling in Reni’s tangled hair. She stares down at Reni for a moment, an unreadable expression in her eyes. “Can I be brutally honest with you, Re?”

Reni tenses slightly, her hands clenching in her trousers. “Yes.”

Kezu sighs again, her breath fluttering Reni’s hair. “Sometimes, I do hate you. I hate that I can’t seem to ever get over you, I hate how much I want to kiss you but I can never have you. I hate how much the thought of you with anyone makes me want to lock you up away from the world. But I don’t hate you for not loving me back. I can’t blame you for that, it’s not something you have any control over.”

“I think… I think I hate Alina,” Reni murmurs, looking away from Kezu as one last tear gently rolls down her cheek. 

Kezu tenses, her fingers pausing as they comb through Reni’s hair. She pulls Reni closer to her, resting her chin on top of Reni’s head. She’s quiet for a few moments, searching for the right words. “You don’t hate Alina, Re. You hate how much you love her,” she finally says.

“Same thing,” Reni mumbles. 

Kezu is silent for a moment before she speaks again, her voice soft and quiet. “It isn’t, and you know it isn’t. You, for some reason, love Alina. And seeing Alina with anyone who isn’t you is making you crazy, hence why you hate her right now. Because you don’t want anyone else to have her, because you want her, because you love her.”

“‘Still hate her though,” Reni grumbles.

Kezu can’t help but chuckle at Reni’s words. It’s familiar and reminds her more of her stubborn, confident Reni. 

Kezu gently tugs a piece of Reni’s hair. 

“I never said that wasn't allowed. I just said you don’t truly hate her. You just love her and can’t have her, which is pissing you off.”

“Stop being logical and let me wallow,” Reni moans.

“You know,” Kezu muses, “I think I like this version of you.”

Reni lifts her head slightly so that she can peek up at Kezu. “The mopey, whiny version of me that cries on your shoulder?” She asks, her voice still rough with tears.

“The version of you that acts your age instead of a hardened fifty year old war veteran,” Kezu says. “The version of you that’s eighteen and survived an unthinkable two weeks with a sadistic pirate. Who’s dealt with the pain and nightmares and baggage from that but still needs help sometimes. The version of you that isn’t some hot shot hero.”

Reni snorts, burying her face back in Kezu’s neck. She hates how right Kezu is. She doesn’t feel eighteen. She feels ancient. She feels broken and damaged and tired. Yet here Kezu is, saying that Reni actually seems her age right now. It makes Reni want to cry again.

“You know,” Reni whispers. “Alina isn’t the only person I’ve loved. There was one other person.”

Kezu is silent, still, like if she were to move, this softer version of Reni would fade away as if she never existed and all that would be left is the hardened hero Reni’s been molded into.

“Her name was Dyla. She had these piercing gold eyes and light red hair and beautiful freckled skin,” Reni smiles to herself as memories of her first love fill her mind. “We were betrothed when I was two and she was three. We grew up together, always knowing we’d get married and not really knowing what that meant. But I loved her, as young as we were, and I think she loved me too.”

Kezu relaxes again, going back to combing her fingers through Reni’s hair as she listens to the soft, fond memories from Reni. “What happened?” she asks gently, keeping her tone soft and quiet. 

“Eight years ago, there was a fire in the forest her family’s estate was in,” Reni takes a shuddering breath. “Everyone died. Every member of her family turned to ash.”

Kezu is silent, stopping her fingers as her grip on Reni tightens ever so slightly. She can see where this is going and it makes her heart ache.

“And Dyla?” Kezu asks softly.

“Her grave is in Arivel. With the rest of her family. I visit her whenever I’m home. I bring her cherry blossoms and I talk to her,” Reni takes a long, shuddering breath. “It’s hard, talking about her. As much as I love Alina, Dyla was my first love. She was my fiance. We always talked about what it’d be like ruling Arivel together, what we’d name our kids, what changes we’d make together.”

Kezu is quiet, listening to Reni’s pain. It explains so much about Reni. How she throws her body in front of others to protect them. How she never shows pain. How she feels she needs to carry everything on her shoulders, all by herself. All because at the tender age of ten, Reni lost the person she was supposed to rule and grow old and have a life with. Kezu’s heart aches at the thought.

“She was an artist,” Reni continues after a moment. “She had these stacks of charcoal drawings of flora and fauna and me. I only have one. The rest burnt in the fire.”

Reni sighs, her eyes slipping shut as she recalls her memories of Dyla.

Kezu has never seen Reni so open before. She has never seen Reni so vulnerable before. Reni is always strong. Always confident. Always reliable. Always ready to take on everything for everyone.

“I miss her,” Reni whispers. “I miss her and I wish that fire never happened. I wish she survived. I wish she was staying with me in Arivel when it happened. I wish she wasn’t taken from me.”

Notes:

Author’s Note: Sometimes when I’m writing Reni, I get so caught up in making her The Hero Of Herbin that I forget she’s eighteen, still just a kid. A kid with a mountain of responsibility and trauma who’s trying desperately to hold everything together. This chapter—I hope—shows the part of her that’s a struggling, grieving teenager as opposed to the all powerful hero she is to Herbin.

Sincerely,

Archz

(2310 Words)

Chapter 27: Twenty-Four

Kezu steps into Nalia’s workshop, not expecting Dreniana Von Dawn to be standing in the middle of the massive circular room with mini stars surrounding her. The wave of pure magic power washes over Kezu so hard she almost stumbles out of the workshop.

As soon as she sees Kezu, Dreniana’s stars burst into tiny specks of light that fall to the floor, fizzling out. She flushes, ducking her head and playing with her glasses.

The power in the room calms a bit but still flows off Dreniana in intoxicatingly strong waves. Kezu thought Nalia was powerful when they first met—and she certainly is—but in terms of raw magic power, Dreniana makes Nalia look magicless. 

Nalia pops up from her desk, her face covered in soot. “Kez! This is one of my students,” she says, pointing to Dreniana. “I heard you unofficially met yesterday.”

Dreniana takes a few steps forward, her fingers fiddling with the rims of her glasses. “I’m…” Her voice is shaky and her gaze flits around, never quite meeting Kezu’s eyes. “I…”

Nalia places a gentle hand on Dreniana’s shoulder, squeezing slightly. Dreniana takes a deep, shaky breath, squeezing her eyes shut. “I’m Dreniana Von Dawn,” she says softly, holding out a trembling hand. “I’m an apprentice of Archmage Nalia… And you’re Reni—Captain Vel’s ward.”  

Kezu gently reaches out, taking Dreniana’s hand. “I’m Kezu. It’s nice to meet you… And yes, I am Reni’s ward.”

“I’ve seen you around a lot,” Dreniana says, pulling her hand back and resting her arms stiffly at her sides, not quite looking up at Kezu but not looking at the floor either. “Not that I’ve been looking! You’re just around the castle a lot, so I see you.”

“Hard to miss the only Grentinite in Herbin, huh?” Kezu says, making Dreniana flinch with the bite behind her words. 

“Something like that,” Dreniana mumbles, her fingers twitching at her sides as Nalia pats her on the shoulder and makes her way back to her desk, leaving Dreniana and Kezu to stand awkwardly in the middle of the room. “You don’t like it here, do you?” 

“I don’t like Neleta,” Kezu says, forcing herself to soften her voice a fraction. “But I like Herbin.”

Dreniana nods, adjusting her glasses on her face as the room falls silent for a moment. The air is filled with the crackles and pops of Nalia’s fire, and the shuffling of papers as she tries to ignore the two. 

Finally, Dreniana sighs, breaking the stifling silence. “What’s it like in Grent?” She asks, her words small and cautious.

“It used to be beautiful,” Kezu whispers, rubbing her breastplate over her heart, where the tattoo for her brother is.

Dreniana looks at her hands, fiddling with the sleeves of her loose shirt. She stays quiet for a moment, the silence almost unbearable. “It must be hard,” she mutters, keeping her gaze fixated on a random spot on the floor.

Kezu opens her mouth, almost uttering something cruel, but she stops herself, clamping her mouth shut for a moment. “I lost my brother, my only family. Of course it’s hard,” Kezu whispers. 

“Kezu,” Nalia hisses, looking up from her desk. “Be nice.”

Kezu’s gaze flicks back to Dreniana, looking far too much like a kicked puppy. Kezu sighs, running her hand over her braided hair. 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—” Dreniana cuts herself off, taking a step back as she wraps her arms around her stomach. “I just wanted to extend my condolences.”

“No,” Kezu sighs. “I overreacted. You have no reason to apologize.”

Dreniana takes another shaky breath before looking up at Kezu, their eyes meeting for the first time since Dreniana introduced herself.

Kezu’s breath hitches when she looks into Dreniana’s eyes. It’s like… looking into the night sky back in Grent. Her irises are dark purple with small flecks of light subtly blinking like stars.

A pang Kezu tries to ignore settles in her stomach. She ignores the probing thought that it’s the same feeling she had when she saw the torture scars on Reni’s body for the first time.

Kezu takes a step towards Dreniana, the urge to touch the stars in her eyes becoming almost unbearable. Kezu clenches her hands into fists at her sides, keeping them where they belong.

Dreniana keeps her eyes locked with Kezu’s, her body frozen. She looks so small, standing there with her arms wrapped around her stomach, looking like her legs could give out and send her crumbling to the floor at any moment.

Kezu takes another step forward, close enough to see each individual freckle that dusts Dreniana’s tanned and sunburnt cheeks or the small crack stretching the bottom of the right lens of her glasses.

“I think we got off on the right foot,” Kezu says softly, tracing every detail of Dreniana that she can.

Dreniana shakes her head, flushing as she takes a miniature step back. “No, your reaction was wholly warranted,” she mutters. “I was out of line.”

Kezu pauses, a sharp pang of guilt shooting through her. Dreniana looks terrified, like Kezu is some wild animal ready to pounce. 

Kezu sighs, looking away, her gaze searching for something to focus on so she won't be tempted to look into Dreniana’s galaxy-filled eyes. She settles on Dreniana’s hands, fiddling with her mage’s robes. There’s small burns dotting the pads of her fingers and the palms of her otherwise perfect hands. 

When Kezu finally speaks again, her voice is soft, careful not to spook Dreniana any further. “No, it wasn’t,” she says. “You were just trying to be polite.”

Kezu doesn’t understand how someone with so much raw magic power radiating from her can be so timid. Her magic is obviously strong enough that it’s still hurting Dreniana when she uses it. The sunburns on her face and arms and the burn scars on her hands are evidence of that. 

It makes some sense why Dreniana would be skittish around Kezu. She’s got red eyes and sharp canines and pointed ears. She’s a Grentinite, a warrior. But she’s nearly a head shorter than Dreniana. And Kezu isn’t as imposing as Reni. Kezu has maybe half the muscle mass of Reni. Most of the guards around the castle are more built than Kezu. She’s, by far, one of the less intimidating people in the castle—if you take away her Grentinite features.

Back home, Kezu was teased for being smaller, weaker than the rest of them. She’s never been intimidating before so she grew a harsh personality to accommodate. But the more time she’s spent in Neleta, the more she’s found that Neletans fear her just as much as any other Grentinite.

Dreniana keeps a cautious distance from Kezu, watching her like she might pounce at any moment. 

Kezu sighs again, her gaze flicking back up to Dreniana’s face.

Dreniana flinches when Kezu takes another step forward. 

“You’re afraid of me, aren’t you?” Kezu asks. 

Dreniana hesitates for a moment before nodding. Her eyes are fixed on the floor.

Nalia looks up from her work. “She’s terrified of anyone new,” Nalia says, shaking her head with a light smile. “Don’t take it personally.”

“You don’t have to be afraid of me, you know. I’m not going to hurt you,” Kezu says softly, trying to relax her body to make herself seem less threatening.

Dreniana looks up at Kezu again, a weak smile gracing her face for a few moments. Kezu’s throat closes up so fast she almost chokes for air. She’s nothing like Reni, so what makes Kezu like Dreniana the same way?

Reni is strong, large, imposing, intimidating. She’s heroic and brave and kind all the same. She takes up space wherever she is. She holds the attention of everyone around her. Dreniana is quiet, small, a shadow of sorts. Maybe it’s the magic power that radiates from her. Maybe that’s what Kezu is drawn to in Dreniana. 

“Kezu,” Nalia says, making Dreniana jump. “I called you up here because I need Dren to run an errand for me and I want you to accompany her.”

“What?” Dreniana snaps, whipping around to face Nalia. “I’ve done these checks dozens of times by myself! I know the route! I don’t need a babysitter!”

Nalia sighs, pinching her brow. “Dead below, you’ll be the death of me,” she mutters before sighing and returning her gaze to her student. “This is not about your competence. I trust you wholly to check and maintain those sigils. This is a matter of you needing to make new friends.”

Oh. Kezu thinks, eyes wide. Dreniana’s magic sparks with her fury, small stars flickering around her. It makes Kezu’s knees shake ever so slightly.

“Fuck!” Dreniana snaps, turning on her heel and storming toward the door. “Fine!”

Nalia nods to Dreniana, silently telling Kezu to follow her.

 

– – – – –

 

Dreniana inspects the third sigil of nine along the outer wall of the castle. Her fingers lightly tracing over each line with practiced precision and grace. 

Every few minutes an angry star will flare up near Dreniana and almost immediately fizzle out. She doesn’t look at Kezu, pointedly avoiding her as if Kezu had any choice in coming along.

Kezu feels a pang shoot through her chest as Dreniana continues ignoring her. She leans against the stone wall of the castle, watching Dreniana check each sigil with a critical eye. 

After several minutes of silence, Kezu pushes herself off the wall and takes a few careful steps toward Dreniana, not wanting to spook her again.

“What, exactly, is it you’re doing?” Kezu asks, standing a foot to Dreniana’s left. 

Dreniana’s shoulders bunch up, her anger fading into nervousness as she continues her steady work with the sigil. “I’m repairing the damage the sigils naturally sustain over time.”

Kezu’s brow furrows as she watches Dreniana tap a section of the sigil, a flash of purple light sparking for a split second. 

Kezu takes a half-step closer to Dreniana to get a slightly better look. “What kind of damage do sigils normally sustain that would need to be constantly repaired, anyways?”

“Weather is a thing,” Dreniana says as if it’d be the most obvious fact in the world. “Weather damages the sigils.”

“How often do you need to repair them?”

Dreniana glaces over her shoulder at Kezu and frowns for a moment before returning to her work. “Once every two to three weeks. Sooner depending on the severity of the weather or if someone intentionally tries to sabotage them.”

Kezu raises an eyebrow as she watches Dreniana finish up the sigil. “What happens if the sigils aren’t maintained frequently enough?” 

Dreniana takes a moment to look up at Kezu, their eyes meeting again briefly. “They lose power.”

Kezu nods, moving a step closer, her shoulder brushing against Dreniana’s. She’s pleased when Dreniana only flashes her a confused glance but doesn’t step away. 

Something scrapes above their heads. Kezu looks up. A chunk of the wall plummets straight toward them. Kezu curses under her breath, tackling Dreniana out of the way. 

Pain explodes in Kezu’s left shoulder as she curls up on the ground. Dots swim in her vision as it blurs from building tears. 

Dreniana gasps as Kezu shoves her out of the way, staring in horror at the section of the wall that collapses where she had just been. She scrambles toward Kezu, rolling her onto her back so she can inspect the wound on her shoulder. 

Kezu winces with a gasp when Dreniana gently runs her fingers over the wound, the pain sharp and pulsing. “Can you not?” Kezu hisses, trying to pull away from Dreniana. “That hurts .”

Kezu tries to sit up, her right hand comes up to help her inspect what she can only partially see. Her fingers dip into dark sticky blood from a large hole in her armor that punctures her skin with sharp pieces of metal. 

Dreniana helps Kezu sit up but pulls her so Kezu is laying against her. She grabs a cloth from her work bag and jams it in the hole in Kezu’s armor. The cream cloth fills with red immediately as Dreniana keeps pressure on the wound. 

“Wayli!” Dreniana shouts to one of the guards she knows that’s running for them. “Go get Marska! Now!”

Kezu bites back a cry. The pain in her shoulder feels as if a hundred needles are being pushed into her muscle over and over, only getting worse the more pressure Dreniana applies to the cloth. 

Kezu closes her eyes, trying to concentrate on her breathing as the guard Dreniana had called Wayli sprints from the courtyard, running for the infirmary.

“You’re okay,” Dreniana murmurs, concern worrying lines into her face. 

“I can’t move my arm,” Kezu whimpers, pressing her eyes closed as she grips the fabric of her trousers with her now bloody right hand. 

Dreniana grabs Kezu’s good hand, gently prying her fingers from the fabric of her trousers and lacing their fingers together. “I know. Marska will be here soon though. You’re gonna be okay.” 

Dreniana tries to sound confident, but her words come out shaky and wavering, betraying her true concern.

A few more moments crawl by with Dreniana holding Kezu close and keeping pressure on Kezu’s shoulder wound, the cloth now soaked with so much blood it looks black. 

Finally, footsteps rapidly approach. Kezu peeks her eyes open as more figures race toward them. One of the figures is Wayli, panting and out of breath. Marska and her team of doctors, medics, and healers follow behind him. 

Marska drops to her knees, waving a medic over to Dreniana. “Make sure Princess Dreniana is uninjured,” Marska orders, pulling the soaked cloth from Kezu’s wound and peering down at it.

Marks grimaces and tosses the cloth to the side. “I need someone to put pressure on this wound immediately. We need to cut away all her armor but the left pauldron. It’s deeply embedded in her shoulder,” Marska barks all while gently holding Kezu mostly upright. 

As soon as the medics start examining Dreniana, she tries to protest, trying to get to Kezu, but two of the medics gently force her to stay out of the way of the team of medics attending Kezu. 

Dreniana struggles against their touch, her eyes frantic, watching as Kezu writhes in pain as an older male healer takes the knife Marska hands him and starts cutting away the leather straps holding together Kezu’s armor. 

Kezu whimpers, her eyes fluttering and growing heavy. Her body grows numb and she falls limp, her eyes closing. 

Dreniana’s faint voice slowly fades into the numb embrace of sleep. “No, no, no, no…”

Notes:

Author’s Note: The drama! The danger! What will happen to my beloved Kezu?!?
Sincerely,
Archz
(2445 Words)
P.S. Have you watched Kpop Demon Hunters? I’m fucking obsessed. It’s damn good! 10/10 would recommend.

Chapter 28: Twenty-Five

“Hey,” Reni whispers, gently brushing Kezu’s sweaty hair from her forehead. 

Kezu groans, blinking a few times. “Is Dreniana okay?” She mumbles, trying to sit up and groaning when she’s unable to.

Reni snorts, squeezing Kezu’s right hand. “She’s fine. A sprained wrist,” Reni says quietly. “You saved her life, Kez.”

Kezu sighs, letting herself relax. “I’m glad.”

Reni waits a moment before squeezing Kezu’s hand again. “I have a question I have to ask you.”

“Hmm?”

Reni sucks in a shallow breath. “What did you think about when you saw that chunk of the wall falling toward you?”

Kezu shakes her head. “I didn’t.”

Reni grins. “Well, Kezu,” she says softly, using her free hand to brush more strays of hair stuck to Kezu’s forehead back, “I’m proud to say you’ve officially met all your requirements to be knighted.”

Kezu stares up at Reni, her eyes wide. She had totally forgotten about knighthood. It was the last thing on her mind. But now that Reni had said it, she couldn’t not think about it. She was almost a knight!

Kezu couldn’t help but smirk, trying to contain a laugh. Despite the pain pulsing in her shoulder, she felt happy. “Does that mean I get the fancy sword now?” Kezu asks, trying to move her left arm only to hiss in pain.

“We can talk to the blacksmith about a custom sword, yes,” Reni says, smiling.

Despite the pain, Kezu beams. She had worked so hard for this moment, even though it was the last thing on her mind. She couldn’t lie; she was proud of herself. 

Kezu opens her mouth to say something else when movement in the doorway catches her eye. Her head snaps over to the door of the infirmary, her smile faltering ever so slightly when she sees who’s standing there.

“You’re awake,” Dreniana says softly, sitting in the empty chair next to Reni.

“Sorry I made you sprain your wrist,” Kezu blurts, looking away from Dreniana and back at Reni.

Reni snorts, squeezing Kezu’s hand again. She watches as Dreniana frowns at Kezu, a slight flush gracing her cheeks which could easily be mistaken for just another sunburn.

Reni has known Dreniana for as long as she’s known the rest of the Von Dawns. Dreniana is a year younger than Reni and Alina. She’d always been the quietest of the Von Dawn children. Always keeping to herself, usually with her nose in a book about magic. 

The entire time Reni has known her, Dreniana hasn’t been comfortable enough with someone new to let down her walls. But—for whatever odd reason—Kezu’s brash, combative, honest nature carved out a door through Dreniana’s walls made solely for her.

“You don’t get to apologize for saving my life,” Dreniana murmurs, her usual timidness lessened but still present as she slowly, carefully, reaches up to rest her uninjured hand on Kezu’s forearm.

Kezu stares at Dreniana’s hand resting gently on her forearm, mouth opening and closing and opening again. “I… um…”

Dreniana shakes her head, leaning over and gently pressing a kiss to Kezu’s forehead. “Thank you,” she whispers, eyes widening as she pulls away, seemingly realizing what she just did. 

Reni watches Dreniana scamper out of the infirmary, muttering various curses under her breath and trying to hide the flush growing over her entire being.

Reni holds back a laugh as she watches Dreniana practically sprint from the infirmary. Her eyes glint with a playful, knowing look that makes Kezu grimace. 

Kezu tries to sit up again, wincing as pain shoots through her shoulder. “Don’t even start,” Kezu mutters, shooting Reni an icy glare that is half-hearted at best.

“You have a crush on her,” Reni teases, helping Kezu prop pillows up behind herself, “don’t you? Who knew all it would take for you to get over me was one beautiful, skittish princess.”

Kezu sighs, resting her head back against the pillows. “Just, shut up.”

“No, I don’t think I will,” Reni says, rolling her eyes.

Kezu gives Reni a half-hearted glare, trying to maintain an annoyed expression but struggling to stop the twitch of a grin from pulling at the corner of her lips. 

Kezu sighs again, leaning back against the pillows. She stares up at the ceiling for a few moments before turning just enough to fix Reni with a sideways glance. “Can I ask you something?” Kezu asks quietly, shifting her eyes back to the ceiling.

“Anything, always,” Reni says without hesitation, leaning closer to better hear Kezu’s tattered voice.

Kezu hesitates, her brow furrowing as she tries to figure out how to word her question. After a moment, she finally turns her head to properly look at Reni, staring up at her from her spot on the infirmary cot. “Do you remember when I first joined the guards?” After Reni nods, Kezu continues. “I fell for you as soon as I saw your torture scars. It was like my mind had to catch up with my body. But with… with… her eyes, Reni. There’s literal stars in her eyes. This time my body had to catch up. It was like it just froze up in Nalia’s workshop and now…”

“You’re feeling everything?” Reni finishes.

Kezu nods. “When I walked into Nalia’s workshop, there was this overwhelming wave of power. Her power. It was intoxicating.”

Reni smiles knowingly. “She’s only been Nalia’s apprentice for seven or so months. I was the one that stumbled upon her magic. I could feel it. Not the same way that you do. But I do know what that power feels like.”

Kezu frowns. “What do you mean?”

Reni sighs. She knew it’d come down to this eventually. “Most people have at least a small amount of magic. Nalia describes it as ripples in water. Everyone’s magic makes ripples through space and the closer you are to someone, the more those ripples overlap. That’s what you feel,” Reni pauses, bracing herself for the flood of questions she might receive. “I don’t have any magic. It’s rare but it happens. Usually people without magic can’t feel other people’s magic but I can. It’s like a sixth sense.

“Instead of feeling those ripples, I can kind of sense magic when it’s active. It depends on the person but sometimes I can see the magic around them, sometimes I can hear or feel it, and it’s rare but there’s been a few instances where I’ve smelt and tasted magic.”

“So… you can like… what? Just randomly see people’s magic when they use it?” Kezu finally asks after a long beat of silence.

Reni nods. “That’s the gist of it.”

For a long moment, Kezu stares at Reni like she’s grown a third head. Once the information settles in her mind, she shrugs, wincing when she moves her newly injured shoulder.

“Easy Kez,” Reni chastises. “Your armor was deeply embedded in your shoulder. Marska doesn’t want you moving it too much yet.”

Kezu rolls her eyes. “Whatever you say, bossy boots.”

“Bossy boots?” Reni asks, smacking Kezu’s good shoulder. “Is that the best you can do?”

“Shut up , Reni,” Kezu groans. “I’m injured, cut me some slack.”

Reni snorts, rolling her eyes. “You’re such a baby.”

Kezu opens her mouth to retort but her argument is cut off when a yawn threatens to break her face in half.

Reni smirks, patting Kezu’s arm. “You look exhausted. You should sleep.”

Kezu pouts. “I’m not—” She yawns again and Reni laughs. “Don’t even, Reni! I don’t need rest!”

Reni rolls her eyes, gently but firmly pressing Kezu back into her infirmary bed. “Yes, you do. So shut up and go to sleep.”

Reni doesn’t wait for Kezu to respond. She stretches as she stands before exiting the infirmary. She nods to the guards stationed at the doors. 

“Have a good night, Captain,” one of them mumbles, trying to hold in her surprise at seeing Reni without armor or wearing her formal uniform and instead just wearing a simple tunic and trousers.

“How is she?” Nalia asks, leaning against a nearby pillar. 

Reni shrugs as Nalia pushes off the pillar and falls in step with her. “In pain. A little groggy,” Reni looks at Nalia out of the corner of her eye. “Kez has a crush on Dren.”

“I know,” Nalia says simply.

Reni stops, turning to face Nalia. “You orchestrated it! You knew Kez would fall for Dreniana, didn’t you?”

Nalia shrugs. “In my defense, Dren has been watching Kezu since she got here. I simply just helped my student because I knew she would never make any moves to actually try to interact with Kez.”

Reni rolls her eyes, crossing her arms. “You are a meddler, Nalia. You are worse than a nosy old woman at the market that has nothing better to do than gossip.” 

Nalia snorts, lightly bumping Reni with her shoulder. “You love me, shut up.”

“You need help,” Reni grumbles, unlocking the door to her office and letting Nalia in as she lights the lamps and candles around the room. “You need serious help.”

Nalia lounges in the chair across from Reni’s, staring at Reni as she sits down, glaring at the stack of paperwork she’d left when she heard about the wall collapse. 

“You’re still avoiding Alina, aren’t you?” Nalia asks, propping her feet up on Reni’s desk.

Reni glares up at Nalia. “Don’t even. I’m not in the mood to talk about it.”

“You’ll never be in the mood to talk about it,” Nalia scoffs. “She’s drunk and tries to get you to sleep with her, you come crying to me about it, we talk, you get lost in thought about Kez, we talk about that, you fix that situation, and bam, two days have gone by and you’ve ignored every one of Alina’s summons.”

Nalia gestures to the stack of handwritten summons in the basket next to Reni’s office door. “Look Re, you need to talk to someone about. Preferably her and not one of your flings.”

Reni snorts, shaking her head. “You know, that includes you,” she mutters.

Nalia rolls her eyes. “Oh yes,” Nalia says sarcastically, “because sleeping together once is a fling now.”

Reni glares at Nalia as a knock at the door breaks them from their bickering.

Reni sighs. “Come in.”

The door creaks open and a guard steps inside. He stands up straight, holding a rolled up note towards Reni.

The red wax seal is pressed with Alina’s emblem. Reni shakes her head, pointing to the basket. “Put it with the others,” she grumbles, shooing the guard off. 

Nalia shakes her head, pinching the bridge of her nose. “That proves my point, Reni.”

“I’ll talk to her eventually,” Reni snaps, glaring at Nalia. 

Nalia raises a brow. “When? When will you talk to her? When she finds someone else to warm her bed with?”

Reni groans, resisting the instinct to slam her head on the table. “Stop trying to guilt trip me into talking to her.”

“No, Reni. Even if it’s a drunken mistake every time she says it, even if she doesn’t mean it, she told you she wanted you and now you’re ignoring her. She’s going to get fed up with this at some point and find someone else to screw.”

“I don’t care!” 

Nalia shakes her head. “We both know that isn’t true. You’ve been in love with her for as long as I’ve known you. The moment she gives up on you, you’ll hate yourself for doing what you’re doing right now.”

Reni groans. “I already hate myself, okay? For the longest time, she’s the only thing I wanted. Even if she does actually have feelings for me, I don’t know how to have a normal relationship. I’d destroy whatever we’d have anyway. Might as well do it before it actually happens.”

Nalia rolls her eyes, standing to her feet. She moves around Reni’s desk, stopping right in front of her. “You are the most frustrating person on this continent, do you know that?”

Reni glares up at Nalia, leaning back in her chair so she can look up at her face. “I’ve been told a few times,” Reni mutters, trying to ignore Nalia’s hands on the armrests of her chair trapping her in.

Nalia leans forward, caging Reni in. She rests her hands on the arms of Reni’s chair, leaning over her. “Talk to her, Reni,” Nalia demands. 

“You hate her. You hate my feelings for her,” Reni mumbles. “Why are you so adamant about this?”

Nalia stares down at Reni, studying her for a moment. She sighs, brushing some of the small hairs from Reni’s face behind her ear. “I don’t hate your feelings. I hate how you’re letting those feelings destroy you.”

Reni doesn’t say anything. She just leans into Nalia’s touch, closing her eyes and trying to forget for a few moments. She lets her head fall forward until her forehead rests against Nalia’s stomach. Nalia cards her hand through Reni’s hair, scratching softly at her scalp. 

Reni lets out a shaky sigh. “I’m so tired,” she whispers. “Between my job and Alina and training Kezu… I’m so tired, Nalia.”

“You need to choose someone to be the official Captain of the City Guard. Sictus is ready, you know. There’s quite a few people that would be good for the job. You don’t have to do it, Re. It’s killing you and you know it.”

“Sictus isn’t ready,” Reni mumbles. “He doesn’t want the job. He’s younger than me, Nals. He’s only been my sergeant for six months. He hated being Captain when I was— When I was captured by Plantatos and during my recovery time. I think one of my lieutenants has promise but she’s the best at training the new recruits and I don’t want to lose that.”

Nalia smiles softly. “Hear me out Re,” she says, her voice gentle. “Lett. He’s been guarding Alina since you were promoted and he was a guard when I came here to study magic. He’s shown exceptional promise. His family is in the city and he’s often talked about wanting to switch to the city guard. He has the experience, the knowledge, the personality for being captain.”

Reni pulls away from Nalia, reaching for her pen and a new piece of parchment. She scrawls out her official letter of recommendation to King Telus, the exhaustion slipping from her bones with every word. 

 Once the letter is rolled up and sealed, Nalia smiles, patting Reni’s shoulder. “Go get some rest,” she mutters. “I’ll get this delivered, okay?”

Notes:

Author’s Note: I’m not quite sure what to say with this chapter. I love you, my darling readers.
Sincerely,
Archz
(2429 Words)

Chapter 29: Twenty-Six

“Stop fussing Reni,” Kezu moans, trying to back away from Reni as she smooths Kezu’s uniform again. 

“This is your first ball and you injured your shoulder,” Reni grumbles. “Don’t tell me not to fuss.”

After a moment, Kezu stops trying to swat Reni off. Reni grabs the red wooden box from her desk, opening it to reveal a gold and ruby medal. She moves to pin it over Kezu’s heart. 

“What is that?” Kezu asks, her eyes wide as she grabs Reni’s wrist.

Reni grins. “It’s a medal of valor,” Reni says, a proud glint in her eye. “I told King Telus you wouldn’t want a big ceremony so he asked me to give it to you before the ball tonight.”

Kezu stares down at the medal in awe. The red rubies glisten under the light of the lamps and the gold is almost blindingly shiny. 

Kezu hesitantly releases Reni’s wrist, allowing her to pin the medal on the left side of her chest. Reni steps back away from Kezu, looking her up and down. 

Kezu fidgets a bit under Reni’s gaze, suddenly feeling self conscious. “It’s too flashy, isn’t it? Too showy.”

Reni gestures to her own medals, covering her chest and now dipping to her mid torso. “You haven’t complained about these being too flashy.”

Kezu looks over the medals, taking in the sight. The golden medals sit proudly against Reni’s chest, each a different shape with different jewels. 

Kezu sighs. “Yeah but… those are your medals. They suit you. This looks ridiculous on me,” Kezu mumbles, glancing into Reni’s floor length mirror to look at the single medal against her chest.

“Would it make you feel better if I told you Dreniana designed it for you herself?” Reni asks, a knowing look in her eyes.

Kezu looks up at Reni, her eyes wide. Her mouth opens and closes a few times but no coherent words come out. 

Slowly a soft, awed smile grows on Kezu’s face. She gently touches the medal, looking down at it like it’s the most precious thing in the world. “She… she made this for me?”

Reni snorts. “Yeah, she did.”

Kezu is silent for a few moments. She runs her thumb gently over the rubies in the medal. 

Slowly, she looks up at Reni, a small, shy smile on her face. “I feel a lot better about wearing the medal now. Is that stupid?”

Reni shakes her head. “No, it’s not. It’s—quite frankly—adorable.”

Kezu blushes. She looks back at the medal, trying to avoid Reni’s gaze as the tips of her ears turn red. 

Kezu clears her throat. “Shut up, Reni,” she mumbles, ducking her head in hopes of hiding the red of her cheeks.

Reni sighs. “Okay, okay,” she relents. “We need to get going anyway.”

 

– – – – –

 

Reni spots Lium as soon as they walk through the door. She holds herself back from running up to him and crushing him in a hug. Instead, she leads Kezu over to the table he’d situated himself at, nursing a cup of coffee while sitting with Endrus. 

Lium looks up, eyes wide and smile bright when he sees Reni. He stands, meeting Reni on the other side of the table. Reni pulls him into a gentle hug. 

“How’s my favorite duke doing?” Reni asks once she pulls away, flashing Endrus a small smile.

Lium shrugs. “Arivel is mostly used to me now. Endrus helped with that. Thank you, for having King Telus send him as an advisor,” Lium pauses, glancing over Reni’s shoulder. “You must be Kezu. Reni wrote about you in her letters to me.”

Kezu nods, her eyes wide as she looks at Lium, her jaw hanging slack. “You look… exactly like Reni,” she mumbles, flushing a bit when she tears her gaze away from him. 

Lium smiles, chuckling softly. He takes in the way Kezu gapes at him. He runs a hand through his hair, glancing over at Reni. Reni glares at him, pointedly shaking her head. 

“As if, Reni,” Lium says aloud. “I’m not going to flirt with someone I just met when I’m actively seeing someone.”

Endrus chokes on the wine he’s drinking, coughing as he glares at Lium. “I thought we weren’t telling anyone, Lium.” 

Reni’s eyes widen before settling into a deadly glare. “You’re dating my brother?” Reni hisses, stepping closer to Endrus and taking his chalice from him, slamming it on the table.

Lium grimacing as Kezu looks between Reni, Lium, and Endrus.

Endrus clears his throat, rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish smile on his face. “Surprise,” he mumbles half-heartedly.

Reni leans in to whisper in Endrus’ ear. “You’re lucky I can’t kill Von Dawns. If you were anyone else, you’d be dead.”

Endrus nods, taking a shaky breath. “You shouldn’t make threats when you’re the one who’s avoiding my baby sister,” he hisses, not looking at Reni’s face. 

Reni grips his chin, making Endrus look her in the eyes. “We both know you’re terrified of me. So yes, I’m going to make threats. If you hurt my baby brother, I will destroy you. Even if it costs me my life. Besides, you know nothing of what’s happening between Alina and I.”

Endrus swallows, his Adam's apple bobbing as he nods again. He tries to avert his gaze, but he finds that he can’t break away from Reni’s hold. “Understood,” he whispers, his voice cracking.

Reni shifts her glare to Lium. “Really, Li?” She asks, moving back toward him and away from Endrus who visibly deflates when he’s out of Reni’s sights. 

Lium shakes his head, staring at Reni with a tired look on his face. “You sound like Mother did, you know that?”

Reni rolls her eyes. “Someone has to be the mature and responsible one. And clearly you and your taste in men is lacking.”

“Says you,” Lium scoffs, rolling his eyes. 

Reni pinches the bridge of her nose, her anger fading slightly. “Okay, fine. That was deserved. Just be safe, yeah? And please get to know Kezu like you said you would,” Reni turns to Kezu, offering her a smile. “Will you be okay if I leave you with Li and Endrus Von Dawn for a bit? Feel free to mingle if you want but these things can be intimidating when you’re not used to them.”

“Or when you are,” Endrus interjects, flinching when Reni glares at him again.

Kezu nods once, glancing over to the sea of people around her. There are various nobles, royalty, and knights milling around the grand ballroom. Most are talking, laughing, drinking, and eating. A few of the noblemen look at Kezu, raising their eyebrows and scanning their eyes up and down her figure. 

Kezu gives Reni a look. “I think I will be fine. And if it gets to be too much, I promise I will grab you immediately and cling to you for dear life.”

Reni sighs. “I suppose that’s fair,” she mumbles, hugging Lium one last time—while glaring at Endrus—before slipping off into the crowd.

Reni scans everyone, looking for Vera. Reni spots her sipping wine out on the balcony with a prince from a well off kingdom. Reni smiles and rolls her eyes, leaning against a pillar and scanning the crowd for someone else.

“Hey, Reni,” Alina says tentatively.

Reni looks over, surprised to not see a chalice of wine in her hand. “Ali, hi.”

Alina smiles at Reni a little timidly as she walks over, clasping her hands in front of her. “Hi…”

Reni crosses her arms and raises a brow. “I’m surprised you’re not drunk by this point in the night. You usually are by now.”

“About that,” Alina trails off for a moment, looking into Reni’s eyes as she steps closer. “I wanted to apologize for how I acted the last time we spoke. I shouldn’t have done that when I was drunk and then you’ve been ignoring all of my summons and I’ve just felt like the worst person for the last week and a half.”

Reni sighs, her shoulders sagging the slightest bit. She glances back into the ballroom, a frown tugging at her lips. Alina hesitantly steps closer, stopping herself from reaching out. “Reni… look at me, please.”

Reni does for a split second before looking at the floor. “Look, Ali,” she mutters. “You’re not the worst, you just did something incredibly stupid.”

Alina shakes her head and pushes the hair back behind her ear. “I know. I just miss you. I know it’s only been a week, but it feels like an eternity has gone by. Why have you been ignoring me? Why won’t you look at me?”

“You drunkenly professed your love for me and tried to get me to sleep with you,” Reni hisses, looking back over the ballroom. “Why do you think?”

Alina winces, the words plunging into her heart. She slowly reaches out, letting her hand rest on Reni’s arm. She swallows thickly, not quite able to meet Reni’s gaze. Alina rubs Reni’s arm gently, sighing shakily. She takes a step closer, gently squeezing Reni’s arm.

Slowly, so slowly, her touch drifts down towards Reni’s hand, her fingers gently running over Reni’s knuckles. Alina laughs. It’s quiet, sad, breathy, and bittersweet. “I know, Re,” she whispers. “I know but that doesn’t mean I didn’t mean—”

A shadow darts through the crowd of dancers near the riser where the thrones sit. Reni pushes off the pillar, abandoning Alina as she follows the shadow. It swerves in and out of Reni’s view until she’s right next to the riser. 

The shadow is behind King Telus and Queen Elna. Reni opens her mouth to shout. She stumbles clutching her throbbing cheek as she looks over at a second shadow, fist still raised from when it punched Reni. 

Reni grits her teeth, drawing her sword and stabbing through the shadow’s heart. It falls to the ground, blood pooling around it. Human. Shit. Reni thinks, turning back to the King and Queen. 

Blood spills down the thrones. Their bodies slumped back with their necks cut open. Screams erupt throughout the ballroom. The first shadow darts toward the exit to Reni’s right. Reni sprints after it, shoving through nobles.

The shadow turns to the left. The right. Left again. Left. Right. Right. Right. 

Dead end.

Reni stares down the shadow. The sleek black wooden mask, the black leather armor, the black everything. Truely a shadow. An assassin . 

Reni charges, swinging her sword. The shadow draws two of their weapons—straight spined scimitars—and blocks Reni’s attack like it’s nothing. 

Reni grits her teeth, swinging again. Reni and the shadow move in harmony. Every step, every move is graceful and flawless. The shadow parries another attack, twirling around and stabbing toward Reni’s stomach. Reni grabs the shadow’s wrist, bending back and dodging the attack. Reni kicks their chest, sending the shadow stumbling back. 

Reni attacks again. Her sword is blocked. 

Again and again and again and again. The sound of the swords ringing echo through the air. The sounds of the crowd’s screams are faint and distant.

Reni grins when the shadow falters for a moment. She lunges for the mask, tearing it off and taking a few steps back. Reni tosses the mask to the side, looking back up at the shadow. 

The clang of Reni’s sword on the marble floor echoes through Reni’s bones. 

“Dyla?”

“You should have just let me get away, Reni,” Dyla snaps, pressing the blades of her scimitars to Reni’s neck and backing her into a wall. 

“You’re dead,” Reni whimpers. “You died. You died in the fire that burned your entire family and your family’s estate to the ground.”

“I survived,” Dyla sneers. 

Dyla’s eyes are cold and emotionless, staring straight at Reni. She presses her blades harder against Reni’s skin. The slightest bit of pressure makes tiny lines of blood bubble up.

Reni’s hands shake as she cups Dyla’s cheeks, thumbs brushing over her cheekbones. “You’ve been alive for eight years?” Reni whispers. 

Dyla swallows, her eyes darting to the side before moving back up. She opens her mouth then closes it. 

Reni’s eyes soften. A lump grows in her throat as her heart hammers against her chest. Her thumbs gently run over Dyla’s cheek. 

After a long moment of silence, Reni closes the distance between them. Her lips meet Dyla’s, cutting off her protest. Dyla pulls back and sheaths her scimitars before returning to the kiss. 

“I mourned you,” Reni snaps between kisses. “I’ve mourned you, Alina mourned you, Vera. All of us.”

Dyla gently tucks a loose strand of Reni’s hair behind her ear, a sad smile on her face. “I know. I’m sorry, Reni. I’m sorry.”

Reni blinks. “Sorry? You’re sorry ?” Reni shouts, shoving Dyla off her when she remembers why Dyla was here in the first place. “You just killed the King and Queen! I should be arresting you right now! And you’re just going to say you’re sorry like that makes up for eight years of grief?”

Dyla scoffs after a long moment of tense silence. Her voice is cold when she speaks again. “I expected a different reaction from you, Love. Not this… this anger and disappointment. I thought you of all people would be happy to see me after all this time.”

“ Oh I’m sorry,” Reni says sarcastically, “There’s just this little overshadowing fact of you just killed the King and Queen of Herbin !”

Dyla slowly looks back up. “Do you think I wanted to kill them, Reni? Do you really think it made me happy and joyous to do it? They were nothing but kind to me!”

“You still did it!” Reni snaps.

Dyla crosses her arms, stepping back and scoffing loudly. She glares up at the ceiling. “Yeah, I did it. Because I was paid to. I didn’t do it with some kind of giddy, evil grin on my face. I’m an assassin, Reni, it’s what I do.”

“That does not make it any better, Day,” Reni hisses, her fingers itching to pull Dyla back against her despite being the one to push Dyla away.

Dyla laughs. It sounds bitter and cold. Nothing like her old laugh. Reni hates it. 

Dyla walks past Reni, shoving her shoulder and stalking off. Reni grabs Dyla’s wrist, stopping her before she can get too far. Dyla tries to free her hand from Reni’s grip but Reni only grabs her other wrist. Dyla glares at Reni, jerking her arms to no avail. Reni yanks Dyla forward, making her stumble and almost collapse into Reni’s arms.

“Don’t leave me,” Reni whispers, wrapping her arms around Dyla’s hips instead of taking her to the dungeon like she should. “ Please don’t leave me again.”

Dyla struggles against Reni for a little longer. She stops when Reni buries her face in Dyla’s shoulder, arms tightening around her waist. Dyla swallows a lump in her throat. 

One of Dyla’s hands slowly drifts up, hesitantly gripping the back of Reni’s shoulder, pulling Reni tightly against her.

“What happened to you, Day?” Reni whispers, pressing little kisses to Dyla’s neck.

Dyla lets her eyes flutter close at the kisses but quickly pulls away when she comes to her senses. She steps back again, shaking her head. “You shouldn’t be doing this. You shouldn’t be happy to see me. You shouldn’t want to hold me or touch me. I killed the King and Queen. I don’t—What’s wrong with you? Why aren’t you arresting me?”

Moments ago, Dyla said the opposite. Something happened to her, Reni realizes. Something terrible that fractured her very being.

Reni groans, reaching for Dyla again. “You were— are —my betrothed, my fiance. I can’t arrest you,” Reni mumbles. “I’m pissed that you killed the King and Queen and I’m even more pissed that one of your buddies tried to kill me, but I just got you back. I’m not sentencing you to death.”

Dyla scoffs, wrenching out of Reni’s grip. “I’m so touched that you’re putting a childhood agreement above your job, your morals, and common sense,” she snarks as she steps forward and jabs her finger in Reni’s chest.

Reni grits her teeth. “Would you rather I throw you in the dungeon?” She snaps.

Dyla opens and closes her mouth repeatedly, struggling to find a response. Dyla throws her hands up in frustration. “You know, in my head, I imagined you screaming at me or beating me for killing the King and Queen. Maybe some tears and a lot of yelling. Not you being so happy to see me and defending me for what I did just because we were betrothed in childhood.”

“Make no mistake,” Reni says, tightly gripping Dyla’s chin. “I’m not defending you. I despise what you did. You destroyed the royal family of Herbin and killed the parents of one of your best friends. I’m pissed. I hate that you did it.”

Dyla signs, shoving Reni’s chest. “If you despise what I did and hate me so much, why are you still holding me with so much gentleness and why aren’t you turning me in right now, hm? You have every right to. Why aren’t you using it?”

Reni swallows. She can’t even bring herself to glare at Dyla now. Reni’s hand falls to her side. “You… you aren’t evil. You don’t deserve to die.”

“Really Reni?” Dyla snorts, rolling her eyes. “You thought I died. You haven’t seen me in eight years. I just killed the King and Queen! I’m an assassin! What fucked your head so much that you don’t think I’m evil?”

Reni shakes her head. She closes her eyes and takes a deep, shaky breath. “You used to be the most caring, kind, soft person I knew, Day. You were loyal and caring and sweet. You never wanted anyone to get hurt and you always tried to help everyone. You used to smile constantly. You used to hold me when I had nightmares. You used to laugh so much. A few years can’t change someone that much.”

“You experienced two weeks of torture and turned into a pirate’s pet slut,” Dyla hisses. “I endured years of torture. You have no idea what I’ve had to do to survive.”

“Tell me,” Reni begs, her hands shaking as she reaches up to cup Dyla’s cheeks, stopping herself right before touching Dyla. “Tell me what happened to you. I want to help you. I want—”

Heavy boots echo into the dead end hall Dyla and Reni found themselves in. Reni’s eyes widen. She shoves Dyla into the hidden entrance to the servants quarters. “Punch me,” Reni says quickly. “In the nose, make it bleed.”

“What are you—”

“Do you want to get caught or do you—” Reni stumbles back, clutching her nose as Dyla closes the secret entrance.

Reni slides down onto that wall, clutching her hand to her nose. Guards whip around the corner, two of the six sprinting to Reni to help her up.

“Captain, what happened?” One of the guards asks, placing a steadying hand on Reni’s shoulder as another hands her a white cloth. 

Reni takes a deep breath through her mouth, trying to get her breathing under control. She presses the cloth to her nose. “I chased the assassin here, we fought, they got the better of me and slipped away,” Reni grumbles. “Not my best moment.”

The guards grimace in sympathy, helping her to her feet. “Did you at least catch a glimpse of their face, Captain?” The guard with his hand on her shoulder asks, helping her start walking back toward the ballroom.

Reni picks up her discarded sword and Dyla’s wooden mask. “It was too fast but I did snatch this,” she says, showing them the mask. “I’ll look into tomorrow. I need to do damage control in the ballroom.”

 

Notes:

Author’s Note: Hey y’all! I hope you’re having a fantastic day! What do you think so far?
Sincerely,
Archz
(3304 Words)

Chapter 30: Twenty-Seven

Alina watches Reni walk away—that determined look in her eyes as she follows something . 

Alina scoffs, clenching her dress into her fist and gritting her teeth. This wasn’t supposed to happen. They were supposed to talk. Reni would bring Alina to her office, Alina would tell Reni how she feels—really feels, no alcohol involved—and they’d live the rest of their lives together. 

Reni isn’t supposed to be walking away. Reni isn’t—shreeks erupt throughout the ballroom. Cold metal presses against Alina’s neck, a sleek black wooden mask behind it. 

“Get off her!” 

The assassin crumples to the floor as crystals sprout from inside their chest. Nalia stands on the other side of the body, her cheeks red with pure hatred. 

“You just…” Alina trails off, looking up at Nalia. “You just saved me.”

Nalia nods once, kneeling over the corpse just to make sure the assassin is dead. Once she deems the assassin is, she rises to her feet and glances up at Alina. She reaches a hand out, hesitantly resting it on Alina’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”

Alina pulls Nalia into a tight hug, burying her face in Nalia’s neck. “I feel like such a piece of shit for being a bitch to you,” Alina murmurs. “You didn’t have to save me. There are guards that would have—”

Nalia hugs back, resting her chin on top of Alina’s head. She takes a few moments to collect herself and think of her response. She pulls back slightly, gently placing her hands on Alina’s shoulders and meeting her eye. 

Nalia shakes her head slightly. “But they weren’t there. I was, so I saved you.”

“But I’ve been such a—”

“Alina,” Nalia says, squeezing Alina’s shoulders, “Reni is your best friend and I care deeply for Reni. It would destroy her if you died.”

“I’m sorry, Nalia,” Alina whispers, tears free falling down her face. “I shouldn’t have treated you the way I’ve been treating you.”

Nalia shakes her head, pulling Alina back into a hug. She rests her chin back on Alina’s head as she gently rubs circles on Alina’s back. 

Nalia hums and stays silent for a few moments, just letting Alina cry. “It’s okay. Apology accepted. But I do think you owe Reni an apology too.”

“Was trying to,” Alina mumbles into Nalia’s shoulder. “She ran away and then the assassin…”

Nalia nods. “Okay. Let's go find your parents and make sure they know what happened and then we’ll find Reni,” she says, leading Alina around the crowd until the riser with the thrones comes into view.

Alina freezes, falling to her knees. She covers her mouth as a sob racks her body. “No, please , no.”

Nalia winces, pulling Alina to her feet. “Okay, you’re okay. I’ve got you.”

Alina lets Nalia lead her to the guards inspecting the corpse of the assassin with Nalia’s crystals exploding from the chest. “You two please tell Captain Vel that Princess Alina is safe and that I’m taking her to her chambers,” Nalia says to the guards.

 

– – – – –

 

“So, Kezu,” Lium asks, sitting back down next to Endrus, “what’s it like being my sister’s ward? Is she a hard ass on you too? Does she threaten the people you’re dating?”

Kezu snorts, rolling her eyes. She glances over at Dreniana, standing near Lylania who speaks with a group of nobles similar in age to her. Dreniana looks sorely out of place and incredibly uncomfortable. Kezu looks back at Lium, shaking her head. “Up until about a week ago I had a thing for Reni so, no. Now…”

Endrus pinches the bridge of his nose. “You Vels have a thing for Von Dawns,” he mumbles, taking a sip of wine. 

Lium smacks Endrus’ arm. “Hey!”

“I’m not a Vel,” Kezu says, frowning. 

Endrus shrugs. “You’re Reni’s ward. I figure she’s going to ask you to take the name before your knighting.”

Kezu’s frown deepens. She opens her mouth to protest before deciding on a new question. 

Kezu looks between Lium and Endrus, a confused frown on her face. “How… how did you two get together? How did this start… like what happened when you both realized your feelings? If you don’t mind me asking.”

Lium shrugs. “About a month and a half or so ago, our father died,” Lium sighs. “Arivel is very dedicated to tradition so when Reni decided to be a knight instead of the future Duke, it made my father’s advisors hate the both of us. The first born—unless killed or otherwise incapacitated—is always the next Duke of Arivel.

“When our father died and I was named Duke, Reni thought it best to send one of the Von Dawns to help the advisors adjust to me as Duke. King Telus chose Endrus. 

“Endrus has been helping with my advisors, getting them to trust me and get over their prejudice. We ended up falling in love.”

Kezu stares at the two of them, her eyebrows furrowed as she tries to take in everything. She shifts, a question suddenly popping into her head causing her eyebrows to furrow more. 

“And why, exactly, is Reni pissed?” Kezu asks, looking between them. 

“Because I’m three years older than Lium,” Endrus says. “And he’s the same age as you.”

Kezu raises a brow at the statement. “And that’s the only problem? You being three years older than Lium?”

Endrus shrugs. “And probably because I have a history of not knowing what I want.”

Kezu snorts. “Isn’t that every person?” she asks, raising a brow at Endrus. 

Lium shakes his head with a laugh. “No. Not for Endrus. He tended to sleep with just about anyone attractive.” 

Endrus blushes, glaring at Lium. “Li, don’t go around telling people that. You make me sound like a manwhore.”

“You were a manwhore,” Lium scoffs. “You tried to sleep with my sister.”

Endrus grimaces, his face turning an even deeper shade of red. He avoids looking Lium in the eye, fiddling with the sleeve of his shirt. “Can you not bring that up, please? I’m already worried she’s going to rip my head off for dating you, I don’t particularly want to add fuel to the fire.”

Lium rolls his eyes. “I’m just saying, you don’t exactly do long term, serious relationships.”

“We’ve been dating for a month and a half,” Endrus grumbles. “That’s three times the length of my previous longest standing relationship.”

Lium frowns at Endrus, raising an eyebrow. “You are aware most relationships last much longer than that, yes? Like years.”

Endrus scoffs, a blush still apparent on his face. “I’m aware. I’ve just not found anyone to keep me interested enough to want to stay serious and committed for that long. Until now, that is.”

Lium rolls his eyes. “Well, you’ve heard it here, Kezu,” he says, somewhat sarcastically, “I’m interesting enough to keep around.”

Kezu snorts, looking between Lium and Endrus with clear amusement in her eyes. Endrus sighs, rolling his eyes. He reaches out, playfully smacking Lium’s arm. “Shut up.” 

Lium grins, leaning in closer to Endrus. “Make me,” he whispers, just loud enough for Kezu to hear.

Kezu rolls her eyes. “And that’s my cue to leave,” she mumbles, turning around and walking toward the group she saw Dreniana standing near.

When Kezu is just a few feet from Dreniana, loud gasps and screams echo from the front of the ballroom, near the riser with the thrones. Kezu almost turns when a shadow darting into her vision—straight for  Dreniana—captures her attention. 

Kezu rams into the shadow, screaming out as she lands on her left shoulder. The wound has barely begun to heal and Kezu is sure she just popped her stitches. 

Kezu staggers to her feet, drawing her dagger with her good arm as her left hangs limply at her side. She runs for the shadow, swiping her dagger at them.

They dodge, slipping past Kezu and running for Lylania this time. Kezu winces as she runs after them, throwing her dagger at them.

The body crumples to the ground right in front of Lylania, Dreniana just a few feet to her right. 

Kezu glances to her left, watching Endrus punch a similarly dressed assassin in the face, taking a blade to the gut. Guards tackle the assassin as Lium pulls off his jacket and stuffs it against the wound to stop the bleeding.

Kezu stumbles toward them, her legs turn to jelly and she slams to the ground, her head spinning as everything turns to black. 

 

– – – – –

 

Vycious sits with a mug of coffee next to him as he pours over reports. It’s becoming incredibly clear Herbin’s enemies are planning on making a move against Herbin, Vycious just can’t figure out when it’s going to happen or what they’re going to do. 

The door to Vycious’ study rattles, followed by numerous shouts and the sound of a fight. Vycious slugs to his feet, rubbing his face. 

“I skipped the ball so I could have peace and—” Vycious cuts himself off as he opens the door, staring down at two of his guards pinning an assassin dressed in all black. 

One of them pants, looking up at Vycious and scanning him to make sure he’s uninjured. “Sir, everything is handled. You can return to your studies,” the knight says, a grim smile on her lips.

Boots slam down the hall, another guard running up to Vycious. “Prince Vycious, there’s been a situation. We need you immediately.”

Notes:

Author’s Note: This was a super short one! Sorry for that! I still had fun writing it though.
Sincerely,
Archz
(1571 Words)
P.S. What do you think about me going back and fleshing out the two week time period Reni is captured by Plantatos? It’s hard to write but every time I reread it, it feels like it gets resolved too fast.

Chapter 31: Twenty-Eight

Dyla is alive. Dyla is alive and an assassin who just killed the King and Queen of Herbin. 

Reni paces around her office, thinking through everything she’d learnt from the hundreds of reports and statements she listened to and read all through the night. 

Reni’s Dyla—with five others—made assassination attempts on the king and queen, Reni herself, Lium, and each of the five Von Dawn children. The only casualties besides the king and queen were three of the five other assassins. The one that attacked Lium and Endrus and the one that tried to attack Vycious were captured and brought to the dungeon where they’re being questioned by some of the knights.

“You look stressed,” a hypnotic voice calls from behind Reni, in her bed chambers. 

Reni whips around, going through a number of different emotions as Dyla sits on Reni’s bed, discarding a sleek back mask just like the one she’d worn the night before—which now sits on Reni’s desk.

Reni swallows, her eyes scanning over Dyla’s face and body. She takes a deep breath, struggling to calm her heart. “You shouldn’t be here,” Reni mumbles, slowly walking closer to Dyla, her guard faltering with each step.

“You’re absolutely right I shouldn’t be here,” Dyla says, her voice softer, more reserved than last night. “My boss might actually kill me if he ever figures out that I came here again.”

Reni stops right in front of Dyla, her hands twitching as she tries to resist every urge to just touch Dyla. “Then why are you here, Day?” Reni asks quietly.

“Seeing you again…” Dyla trails off, meeting Reni’s gaze and quickly looking away. “I don’t know why I’m here, Reni.”

Reni lets out a shaky breath as her heart starts to pound in her chest. She reaches out, gingerly taking Dyla’s chin in her hand, gently tilting Dyla’s face up. Their eyes connect and Reni swallows. “You’re here because you needed to see me again,” she whispers, her thumb lightly running over Dyla’s cheek.

“I hate that you still know me well enough to figure that out,” Dyla mutters, leaning into Reni’s gentle touch.

Reni laughs quietly, her fingers slowly moving to run through Dyla’s hair. She steps even closer, shifting to stand between Dyla’s legs. “You never could hide anything from me, Day. Not when we were kids and not now. I know you too well.”

“And that’s the problem, isn’t it?” Dyla mutters, more to herself than to Reni. 

“Day,” Reni says softly, setting her lips in a thin line, “I need you to answer my questions.”

“You feel like you’re betraying Herbin, don’t you?” Dyla mumbles, closing her eyes. 

“I am betraying Herbin,” Reni snaps, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes for a short moment. “Every moment I’m with you and not arresting you, I’m betraying Herbin.”

Dyla laughs but it doesn’t sound happy, instead sounding bitter and full of self-deprecating mockery. She lets out a shaky breath before opening her eyes again. “And you hate yourself for it, don’t you? For caring about me and letting that cloud your judgement.”

Reni groans and sits on her bed beside Dyla, resting her head on Dyla’s shoulder and interlacing their fingers. “What happened to you, Day?” Reni whispers, inspecting Dyla’s scarred knuckles. “Why did you kill them?”

“I told you last night,” Dyla mutters, relaxing into Reni, “I was hired.”

“By who?”

Dyla softly shakes her head. “I can’t tell you that, Reni.”

“You have to tell me! I need to know so I can at least feel a little better about not arresting you!”

Dyla lets out a sigh, letting her head fall onto Reni’s. She gently shakes her head again and squeezes Reni’s hand. 

Dyla lets out a shaky chuckle, reaching up with her free hand to play with a stray curl of Reni’s. “If I tell you who I work for, they’d kill me for telling you. And then they’d kill you for knowing,” Dyla grits her teeth. “I’m not their only enforcer.”

“Enforcer?”

Dyla freezes. “I wasn’t supposed to say that. Shit, ” she sighs, tugging at one of Reni’s curls between her forefinger and middle finger. “It’s what we're called. We’re assassins, collectors, spies, whatever we’re needed to be.”

Reni brings Dyla’s scarred knuckles up to her lips, kissing them softly before letting their hands fall comfortably between them. Reni doesn’t want to look in Dyla’s eyes, to see that little glint that makes Reni believe Dyla enjoys what she does, even if it’s the tiniest part of her.

After a long moment, Reni lets out a shaky breath, forcing herself to look up at Dyla. Reni studies Dyla’s face, taking in the slight tension in Dyla’s jaw, the way her lips are pressed into a thin line, and the tightness around her eyes. 

Reni lets out a shaky sigh, her fingers twitching as she forces the question from her mouth. “Do you… enjoy it? The killings and assassinations, I mean. Do you enjoy it, Day?”

“Oh Reni,” Dyla whispers, shaking her head ever-so-slightly. “Stop asking questions you don’t actually want the answers to.”

Reni sighs, carefully pulling Dyla back onto the bed. Reni buries her face in Dyla’s neck. “What happened to you?” Reni whispers again, trying to keep her voice steady. “Why are you like this? What did they do to you to make you into this?”

“Reni, they broke me,” Dyla says, softly kissing Reni’s forehead. “I shouldn’t even be here. I could get in so much trouble if they find out.”

“I don’t like what they did to you,” Reni grumbles. “I don’t like seeing you like this. You’re not my Dyla anymore.”

Dyla lets out a quiet scoff and pulls back, grabbing ahold of Reni’s chin and forcing Reni to look up at her. She gently brushes her thumb over Reni’s bottom lip. Her intense eyes lock on Reni’s. “Does that disappoint you, love? Does that make you angry?” Her voice is mocking, teasing, and it makes Reni’s skin crawl.

That switch from sweet to cruel is too easy for Dyla. It makes Reni want to puke. It makes her stomach twist into uncomfortable knots. This isn’t her Dyla. This is the screwed up version of her who’s gone through eight years of torture and learned to love killing. 

A bitter laugh pushes past Reni’s lips and the corners of her lips twitch up into a half grimace, half smile. “Yeah, it does. It does disappoint me, and it pisses me off.”

Dyla raises her eyebrows, tilting her head to the side and studying Reni’s facial expressions. She looks Reni up and down, her gaze stopping on Reni’s lips before slowly meeting her gaze again. 

Dyla scoffs, her cruel facade wavering for a second. The corners of her lips twitch for a second before the facade returns worse than before. 

Dyla lets out a bitter, cold laugh. “Do I scare you now, love?” She reaches out, running her knuckles softly across Reni’s cheek.

“Don’t ask questions you don’t actually want the answers to,” Reni echoes Dyla’s earlier sentiment to Reni.

Dyla laughs, grabbing a fistful of Reni’s hair and pulling her head back. Dyla leans down until their noses brush together. Their breaths mingle and Reni’s eyes widen in surprise.

Dyla grins, a cruel glint in her emerald eyes. She runs her thumb over Reni’s lips, her other hand tugging at Reni’s hair again. Her voice is a low, menacing whisper. “I do scare you, don’t I? Does the big, bad assassin scare the big bad captain?”

“I’m not afraid of you,” Reni whispers, her eyes wide and her lips slightly parted.

Dyla hums, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip for a moment as a spark of curiosity flashes across her face. She runs her thumb down Reni’s jaw, gently tracing over her sharp features.

Dyla’s touch is gentle and soft, a sharp change from her cruel words. Her hand wraps around Reni’s neck, her thumb running over the pulse point in a slow, circular motion. Her voice is quiet and curious when she speaks. “Prove it, then. Prove you don’t fear me.”

Reni reaches for one of the daggers sheathed in Dyla’s armor. She pries Dyla’s hand from her neck, pressing the hilt of the dagger into Dyla’s hand. Reni guides Dyla’s hand to her throat until the cold steel presses against her skin. 

“I think you’re terrifying,” Reni says quietly as she lets go of Dyla’s wrist, “but I’m not afraid of you.”

A smirk flashes across Dyla’s face at the feeling of steel against Reni’s neck. Her eyes hold Reni’s gaze, searching her face for hints of apprehension or fear. 

Dyla hums and shifts closer, her hand keeping the dagger pressed to Reni’s neck. Dyla’s smirk widens as she continues to study Reni’s face. 

Dyla lets out a quiet laugh. “I could kill you right now and they’d never know it was me who did it. You know that, right?”

“I know,” Reni says, her voice level as she tilts her head up, putting more pressure on the blade, feeling the sharp bite of the steel cutting into her neck—just enough to draw blood.

Dyla’s eyes train on the blood. She slowly leans in, licking her lips as she sheaths her dagger. Dyla gently kisses the cut, licking the blood from her lips when she pulls back slightly. 

It reminds Reni of what Plantatos did. That thought—the comparison —almost makes Reni curl up into a pit of fear. But it’s Dyla. She’d never actually hurt Reni. At least, that’s what Reni is telling herself as she feels Dyla lick her blood from the cut on her neck.

After a long moment, Dyla sighs and presses her face into Reni’s neck. “You should be scared, Reni.”

Reni almost lets a sigh of relief escape her at the shift in Dyla’s voice. She’s soft, quiet, vulnerable again. Whatever they did to Dyla, whoever they are, they broke Dyla into so many different pieces it’s hard to tell which piece Reni is looking at.

“I want this off,” Reni mumbles, tugging at Dyla’s leather armor. 

Dyla lets out a quiet scoff but sits up, unstrapping her armor. She slips the leather off and sets it to the side before flopping back down beside Reni. 

Dyla stretches, letting out a quiet groan as her muscles loosen from the release of the tight leather. Reni bites her lip as she watches, her hands darting out to brush over the scarred expanse of skin exposed from her undershirt riding up. 

“You have so many scars,” Reni mumbles, as if she herself doesn’t have just as many.

“You do too, Reni,” Dyla says, her fingers trailing over the two scars intersecting on Reni’s right cheek. 

“I’m aware.”

Dyla sighs. “I can hear someone walking up to your office door,” she murmurs, squeezing Reni’s cheek. “I have to go, Reni.”

Reni sits up, watching Dyla slip her leather armor back on and disappear out Reni’s window. Reni groans, sitting up and stalking over to her desk.

There’s a swift knock at Reni’s door. “Captain,” Sictus says, panting, “Prince Vycious has called an emergency meeting in the Royal Library.”

 

– – – – –

 

Reni sits with Lett—the new Captain of the City Guard—to her right and Nalia to her left. Alina sits next to Nalia and they’ve been sharing hushed conversations since Reni walked in, probably before then. Dreniana and Lylania sit on the short end across from Vycious who sits in his father’s old chair. Endrus and Lium sit across from Reni, Endrus avoiding her gaze while Lium fiddles with the bandage on his arm where the assassin that attacked him and Endrus sliced his arm open. Kezu sits next to Lium, directly across from Alina and closest to Dreniana. 

Vycious clears his throat. “Thank you all for meeting me. With the assassination attempts on most of us and the assassinations of the King and Queen, I fear we’ve been forced into a vulnerable situation which must be handled urgently,” he looks down at the stack of papers scribbled with various notes. “I want to first check in with Captain Vel. What have you pieced together from last night’s assassinations and assassination attempts?”

Reni nods, her mind flashing to Dyla’s hands and lips all over her. She forces the images from her head. “There were six assassins. All wore similar armor and had the same types of weapons. Two were captured, three were killed, and the one that killed the King and Queen escaped after we fought,” Reni says, looking down at her own notes. “Nobody knows where they came from and my knights haven’t made any progress with the two in custody.”

“Thank you,” Vycious nods curtly, looking to Lett. “What does the city guard have to offer in regards to the assassins?”

Lett shakes his head. “There are some rumors and stories about assassins in the city. From what I’ve gathered, they’ve never touched the castle before, only staying in the city. I’ve doubled patrols in all areas of the city and I’ve tried to reach out to some of our contacts but most haven’t checked in.”

Reni grimaces. The enforcers . Chances are, if the contacts are found out, they’re killed or tortured for information. How many of those lost contacts were because of Dyla? 

“Duke Vel,” Vycious says, turning to Lium, “what of the investigations on the involvement from over the border of the Herbin alliance?”

Lium shakes his head. “Nothing. Our contacts won’t receive our inquiries for another few days to weeks.”

“Shit,” Vycious mutters, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Captain Vel, I need your plan for the security of the targeted royals. Including yourself and any others that could be at risk given a second attack.”

“The Herbin alliance superpowers have double guards for their chambers and one guard assigned to their person. Von Dawn royals have two guards assigned to their person instead of one. Duke Vel has the same setup as the Von Dawns. I have a guard stationed outside my office. The palace guards have been doubled as well. There’s someone covering every place assassins could get in through.”

Except for a tiny route that Dyla can use to slip across a number of the lower castle roofs and climb up to Reni’s bed chamber window. 

“Good. That’s… that’s good,” Vycious says, taking a sip of coffee. “Endrus, how are you fairing, little brother?”

Endrus smiles weakly and nods a little. “As to be expected. No vital organs hit. Just a lot of pain.”

Vycious turns to Nalia. “What of our magical protections? Were they tampered with to allow the assassins in?”

Nalia shakes her head. “No. All were strengthened within the past week or two and when I examined them with the help of Princess Alina last night, I found no signs of tampering.”

Reni glances over at Alina. It’s hard to believe they were together willingly. Alina has hated Nalia for being a common born mage since they met. All of that hatred didn’t go away just because Nalia saved her, right?

Vycious taps his pen on a blank sheet of paper. Ink pools on the tan paper. Reni presses her lips into a thin line. She’s committing treason for a girl she thought was dead all while Vycious is going through hell trying to keep Herbin from falling apart and the Von Dawns— Alina —are grieving the loss of their parents. 

A tiny voice in the back of Reni’s head screams for Reni to tell the truth, if only to get Alina closure for her parents’ murders. That voice is overshadowed by Dyla. By her being alive. By saving her from whatever happened to her.

“Lett,” Reni says, glancing over at the Captain of the city guard, “I want you to send me any information you get on the assassins. I want all the rumors and stories and legends.”

Lett nods, his lips pressed into a thin line and his brow creased. “Yes ma’am.”

Vycious turns to Kezu, smiling softly for a split second. “Thank you for saving my youngest sisters last night,” he says, nodding at Kezu. “I heard Marska wants you to push your knighting back another few weeks so you can fully heal from the damage caused by last night’s assassinantion attempts. If there is anything I can do, please let me know.”

“Of course, Prince Vycious,” Kezu says, flashing a pained smile. “Thank you.”

Notes:

Author’s Note: What’s Reni going to do about Dyla? How is Kezu fairing? What’s going on with Alina and Nalia? What’s going to happen to the Von Dawns? Let me know your theories! I’m curious if your theories will line up with what I’m writing.

Sincerely,

Archz

(2743 Words)

Chapter 32: Twenty-Nine

“No! Wait!” Dreniana shouts, trying to get Kezu to turn around.

Kezu turns just as her boot hits a wet patch on the floor. She slips, tumbling to the ground. With her left arm in a sling for the time being to— mostly —stop her from using it, the only thing Kezu can do is brace for impact with her right arm. Said right arm is currently facing away from the ground as she falls.

The impact is soft, warm. A smell similar to charcoal fills Kezu’s mouth and nose. She sighs, her eyes closed as she relaxes against the soft lap her head lays on. 

“You,” Dreniana says softly, her fingers working their way through Kezu’s hair, “need to watch where you’re going. I don’t want my hero going and screwing up her injury even more.”

“Your hero?” Kezu asks, peaking one eye open to look up at Dreniana’s flushed and sun kissed face. “All I’ve done was my job.”

“Yes,” Dreniana says sarcastically, “because your job includes saving me from a falling chunk of the castle and getting yourself severely injured and then making that injury worse by saving me from an assassin. I’m surprised Marska even let you out of the infirmary for the meeting this morning.”

Kezu closes her eyes again, a smile peaking at the corners of her lips. “I may have snuck out.”

“I’m bringing you back as soon as you can walk,” Dreniana says, still playing with Kezu’s hair. 

“Please don’t,” Kezu begs, nuzzling her head into Dreniana’s hand. “I’m so bored in there. Please don’t make me go back.”

“What would Reni say?”

“Reni’s a hypocrite.”

Dreniana snorts. “You aren’t wrong there.”

Kezu opens her eyes, looking up at Dreniana. “You’re very talkative today. You’re usually nervous.”

“You keep saving my life,” Dreniana says, frowning slightly. “It’s intriguing. Plus, you’re sweet. At least, once you get past that prickly exterior of yours.”

“Prickly… prickly exterior ?” Kezu scoffs, turning her head to the side and nuzzling her face into Dreniana’s thigh. “I’m not prickly.”

“Oh, sure,” Dreniana whispers, gently tugging on a lock of Kezu’s hair. “Come on, Kezu.”

Dreniana helps Kezu to her feet. “What are we—”

“Hush, Kezu,” Dreniana links her arm with Kezu’s good one, leading her through the halls in carefully curated silence. 

Kezu lets herself be led around. Her cheeks and neck are flushed and her hands sweat. Her chest feels like it might explode. Dreniana’s sun kissed cheeks and soft features don’t exactly help to quell that building feeling in her chest. 

Dreniana holds open one of the doors out to the back gardens, watching closely as Kezu walks outside. Kezu smiles when she feels Dreniana return her arm to Kezu’s, leading her down one of the twisting paths. Dreniana pulls Kezu toward a wall of hanging leaves from a willow tree. 

Once inside, Dreniana sits Kezu on a bench, holding out her palm and summoning tiny stars to float above them and provide them with a little more light. 

“Kezu, look,” Dreniana says softly, retreating in on herself. “I really appreciate what you’ve done for me. You’ve risked your own life for mine twice now.”

Kezu reaches out with her right hand, grasping Dreniana’s robes before she can get too far away. “It’s my job, you know. I would do it for anyone.”

Dreniana stares at Kezu, slowly taking Kezu’s hand in hers and interlacing their fingers. “I suppose you would,” she whispers, her face flushing more than usual and her hands shaking slightly. “But, I’m the only person you’ve saved so far. And my younger sister, I suppose. Still, you are my hero.”

Dreniana takes a small step toward Kezu, her free hand coming up to brush a sweat soaked strand of hair from Kezu’s forehead. 

A shudder wracks Kezu’s body as she stares up at Dreniana’s flushed cheeks. “You know,” Kezu whispers, “I really like this confident version of you. Confidence makes you look even hotter than normal.”

“You think I’m hot?” Dreniana asks, a nervous laugh bubbling up from her chest. 

Kezu snorts, shaking her head in slight disbelief. “Of course I do, silly. Have you seen yourself? You’re basically a goddess.”

Dreniana snorts, rolling her eyes. “You’re exaggerating. I’m nothing like a goddess. I’m just… me.”

“And you, Dreniana, are beautiful.”

“You Vels really do have a thing for us Von Dawns.”

“Endrus said the same thing last night,” Kezu whispers, tugging Dreniana’s hand. 

Dreniana steps closer to Kezu, gently cupping her cheek. “Because it’s true,” Dreniana cautiously leans down until their noses barely brush against each other. “You’re lucky we have a thing for you too.”

Fear clutches Kezu’s chest as she stares into Dreniana’s eyes, ever glinting with stars beneath her large glasses. Kezu releases her hand from Dreniana’s and cups the back of Dreniana’s head, pulling her in. 

Dreniana gasps, her newly freed hand coming up to rest on Kezu’s chest, right above where her arm sits in its sling. 

Kezu pulls back suddenly, her hand moving from the back of Dreniana’s neck to her shoulder. “Was that okay?” She rushes, desperately looking between Dreniana’s eyes. “I should have asked. I shouldn’t have assumed that you—”

“Hush, Kezu,” Dreniana says softly, smiling even as her face flushes an uncomfortable shade of red. “That was lovely. And as much as I love the confident, heroic version of you, this version is my favorite.”

Kezu pulls Dreniana in for a hug, proving significantly more awkward than it normally would have been given her sling and how Dreniana stands over Kezu as she sits. Dreniana stumbles, landing in Kezu’s lap as she wraps her arms carefully around Kezu’s neck. 

Dreniana laughs, burying her face in Kezu’s neck. Kezu smiles, her hand bracing against the back of Dreniana’s head. “Are you okay, Dren?” Kezu asks after a moment.

Dreniana nods against Kezu’s neck. “Yeah, I am. Just surprised is all.”

“What’s surprising?”

“Just this ,” Dreniana mumbles. “You’re so soft, so vulnerable. Since you got here, it’s seemed like you’re just this hardened Grentinite. It seemed like nothing phased you. I suppose it’s just surprising to see you like this.”

Kezu rolls her eyes, gently threading her fingers through Dreniana’s hair. “Thank you,” Kezu sighs, closing her eyes and resting her head on Dreniana’s shoulder as dizzying waves of nausea wash over her. 

“Hey, hey,” Dreniana says, sitting back, looking at Kezu with wide eyes. “Kezu?”

Kezu groans, further slumping against Dreniana. Dreniana swears under her breath, holding Kezu’s head up with one hand while the other supports her back. 

“This is why you should’ve stayed in the infirmary,” Dreniana grumbles, stroking Kezu’s cheek with her thumb. “Stay awake for me, Kezu. Come on. Keep those beautiful eyes open.”

“I think I popped my stitches again,” Kezu says, her voice barely audible over Dreniana’s panicked breathing. 

Dreniana glances at Kezu’s left shoulder. Blood soaks through her tunic. “Dead Below,” Dreniana mutters under her breath, pulling Kezu to her feet and wrapping Kezu’s good arm around her shoulders. “If you get blood on my robes, I’m going to be pissed off at you.”

Kezu stumbles with Dreniana who drags her out from under the tree and to her newly appointed personal guards. Kezu smiles at them, her face pale. 

“Help me! Now!” Dreniana snaps at the guards, gesturing to Kezu. 

The guards stumble over their own feet, one swiftly scoops Kezu up and runs her into the building. Kezu groggily looks over the guard’s shoulder just in time to see Dreniana rip her arm from the second guard’s grip and slap him. 

Kezu lets a lazy smile spread over her lips when she makes eye contact with Dreniana who’s flushed with anger. 

The second guard rubs his cheek, waiting a few beats before trailing after them. 

“Shit,” Kezu faintly hears the guard carrying her say, “she’s losing consciousness.”

“Come on Kezu, don’t pass out again,” Dreniana’s muffled voice echoes in Kezu’s head and her vision gets fuzzy. “Stay with me. Please, Kezu. You can’t fall asleep, even if you’re tired.”

“Trying,” Kezu mumbles, fighting against her heavy eyelids. 

 

– – – – –

 

“There she is,” Reni whispers, stroking Kezu’s hair as she wakes up. 

Dreniana storms up behind Reni, sitting in the chair next to her. “I’d slap you if you weren’t injured,” she says, slipping her hand into Kezu’s. “Consider yourself lucky that you’re already in a world of pain.”

“I feel so lucky,” Kezu mumbles, trying to blink away the heavy cloud holding her body down. “You look pretty, Dren.”

Dreniana flushes, looking away for a moment. “Don’t compliment me right now,” she grumbles, “I’m supposed to be mad at you.”

Reni sighs, running her free hand down her face. “Dren, please. You need to cut Kez some slack. Marska is going to do enough yelling at her.”

“Reni,” Kezu rasps, staring into Dreniana’s eyes between heavy blinks, “can I have a moment with Dreniana?”

Reni nods and pushes herself out of the chair. “I’ll be in my office. Have someone send for me if you need me again.”

As Reni walks away, Dreniana switches seats, instead sitting in the chair Reni was using. She switches which hand holds Kezu’s using her right to cup Kezu’s cheek. “You scared me. Again .”

“I’m sorry, Dren,” Kezu whispers, flushing under Dreniana’s gaze. 

“You should be,” Dreniana snaps, squeezing Kezu’s hand. “I can’t have my girlfriend dying on me.”

“Gir—” Kezu chokes on the words, her chest sparking with more love than it can contain. “ Girlfriend ?”

Dreniana pales, opening and closing her mouth a few times. “I mean… if you’re okay with that. I don’t want to force you into anything you don’t want to do. I just thought that since you kissed me, you liked me and I like you so I figured we’d—”

“Hey, hey,” Kezu soothes, weakly squeezing Dreniana’s hand. “Girlfriend is good.”

“Okay, good,” Dreniana sighs in desperate relief. “Because I really want to kiss you again.”

Playfully, Kezu rolls her eyes, her smile and eyes brightening despite the heavy cloud still covering her body. “I would like that.”

Notes:

Author’s Note: So fun fact; when I first introduced Kezu I wasn’t sure if I’d give her a proper romantic relationship. The original plan was actually to have her and Lium get together. That, however, interfered with my plan to have Lium and Endrus get together. As it turns out, the Vels really like the Von Dawns.

Sincerely,

Archz

(1680 Words)

Chapter 33: Thirty

Reni rides her horse with twelve other knights walking behind her. Half of them hold the casket of King Telus and the other half hold the casket of Queen Elna. Reni leads them to the lake near Herbin’s forest. 

The five Von Dawn children ride in a closed carriage behind them. Reni can picture Alina’s broken expression. Vycious’ stone cold mask barely hiding the boiling rage in his eyes. Endrus’ lost gaze, staring at the passing nature. Dreniana playing with a star between her fingers. Lylania cuddled up against Vycious, tears staining her cheeks. 

A platoon of royal guards follows the Von Dawn carriage. Then there’s the carriages of other nobles—like Lium, Nalia, and Kezu. They’re tailed by a platoon of city guards. Behind the city guard, anyone of lower class follows on foot. 

Reni spots the two small boats—connected by a wooden plank at the bow and the helm—just down the hill they currently top. Each boat surrounded by a dozen knights, all waiting in perfect form for the pallbearers to bring the caskets to their respective boats. 

Reni knows Dyla is somewhere in the back, following just to watch Reni pretend like she doesn’t know who the assassin is. Like she isn’t fucking said assassin.

Reni dismounts her horse, holding onto his reins as she directs the pallbearers to load the caskets on their respective boats among the bed of flowers picked the day before. 

Reni doesn’t turn, not daring to break protocol even if it were just a moment’s glance back at Alina who is certainly staring at Reni’s armored back. 

Although she may hate most traditions, even those held outside of Arivel, Reni will never disrespect a funeral of any kind. First Dyla, then Reni’s mother, then her father, and now the King and Queen of Herbin. 

In Arivel, funerals are completely silent. Herbin’s funeral tradition is louder. Rhythmic drumming comes from two lines—one next to each boat—of seven drummers. It’s slow at first, somber. It builds. That slow and somber tone flows faster, carrying hope into the mix with the addition of one single violinist standing between the boats as the knights prepare to send them off. 

Reni stares dead in the violinist’s eyes, gritting her teeth when she catches that deadly glint beneath her sunset painted mask. Dyla . She just couldn’t stay in the back. She just had to make Reni sweat. Of course .

 

– – – – –

 

“Reni?” Alina calls from outside the door to Reni’s bed chambers. “Reni, we have to go. Dyla’s… funeral is...”

The door opens, the soft swish of Alina’s dress accompanied by the careful strides of Vycious. “Come on, Re. We must be off.”

Reni doesn’t say anything. She doesn’t move. She can’t . She’s frozen. Frozen in her chair, at her desk, staring out one of the massive windows overlooking the garden of cherry blossom trees she’d ordered be made for Dyla. Reni’s first royal decree. 

Vycious rests his hand on Reni’s shoulder, squeezing slightly. “Come on,” he whispers, kneeling next to Reni, getting on her level. 

Reni glances over at Vycious, all lanky and skinny with the faintest beginnings of a beard. “Not going.”

Vycious raises an eyebrow. “Reni, you have to go.”

“I’m not! I will not go to this stupid—”

Vycious pulls Reni into a tight hug. “Reni, you have to. You’ll regret it if you don’t. Trust me, I know. When my best friend died last year, I didn’t attend the funeral and I regret it to this day. But Dyla wasn’t just your best friend. You were to be married. You must go.”

Reni sobs into Vycious’ shoulder, clinging to his jacket as he picks her up. “I don’t want to say goodbye, Vycious… I don’t want to say goodbye to her.”

“I know—

 

– – – – –

 

“Reni,” Vycious says softly, his rough hand resting on Reni’s shoulder. “They’re waiting for you to give the order.”

Reni glances to her left. She must have gotten lost in that memory, lost track of time. She signals for the knights to send off the boats, not daring to look at Dyla again. 

“Apologies, Your Grace,” Reni whispers, staring at the boats as they start to sink halfway out into the lake, spreading the flowers out as the caskets gently follow the boats in the descent into the depths of the lake. 

“You have no reason for apologizing, Captain.”

Reni glances over at Vycious. He looks exhausted. More exhausted than when he was trying to negotiate out of a war with the kingdoms west of the Herbin Alliance. 

Reni sighs, looking back at the lake, pointedly avoiding looking at Dyla standing in that same spot, directly across from Reni maybe fifty feet away from her. 

Reni flinches when she feels a hand grip her wrist partially over her armor. Alina nestles herself under Reni’s arm, holding it over her chest. 

A sharp squeak comes from Dyla’s violin. To anyone else, it’s just a mistake anyone could and would make. But Reni knows better. Dyla doesn’t want Alina this close to Reni. She doesn’t want Reni to even think about her feelings for Alina. 

Reni pulls Alina closer to herself. “We’re all breaking protocol now?” Reni mumbles, mostly to Vycious.

Vycious hums, shrugging. “I suppose.”

Alina mumbles something Reni can’t make out as she shifts closer, pressing herself tighter against Reni. 

“Alina this probably looks—”

“I don’t care how it looks, Reni.”

Reni grits her teeth. “Alina, you’re not—”

“We’ve been best friends for forever. I’m allowed to seek comfort from my best friend, Reni,” Alina grumbles, her hands finding their way under the plating of Reni’s armor and bracing against the sweat soaked fabric of Reni’s gambeson. 

Reni makes eye contact with Dyla as she finishes the song. Dyla is pissed. Reni can’t blame her. She’d be pissed too. 

“You’re sweaty,” Alina mumbles.

“Sorry I didn’t think to stop my body’s natural cooling process for you,” Reni says, looking away from Dyla again, ignoring the pit growing up from her stomach, into her throat. 

“You should be. This is a complete disgrace to the Vel name,” Alina whispers, all light despite how much pain she’s surely in.

Reni can only imagine what it was like to lose both her parents, at the same time, because of an assassin . For Alina to joke right now? Reni doesn’t know how she’s managing it.

“Ali,” Reni whispers, trying to coax Alina away from her.

“Let me hold you for another while,” Alina mumbles. “ Please .”

“Okay. Okay .”

Notes:

Author’s Note: My grandfather died when I was barely five. I don’t remember much of his funeral but I do remember the twenty-one gun salute and the pure quiet during most of the burial. So, that’s the inspiration behind Arivel’s funeral tradition—that being the pure silence throughout the whole thing.
Sincerely,
Archz
(1080 Words)
P.S. I use Opera GX as my browser and they just released a new mod function for your cursor on screen. Mine is a duck. It’s fucking adorable.

Chapter 34: Thirty-One

“Is it just me,” Alina asks, laying back on the couch in Nalia’s workshop, “or is Reni avoiding both of us?”

Nalia looks up from her desk which she’d shifted closer to the couch when Alina first started spending her free time from the library in Nalia’s workshop. That was over a week ago, three days after the assassinations of the King and Queen. “I’m sure she’s just busy with the investigation. It’s probably got her swamped.”

“Okay but every time I see her in the halls, she turns around or dips into a hallway and disappears before I can catch her.”

“Alina,” Nalia says, standing up and walking over to the couch, sitting down next to Alina and Alina’s hands in her own, “you’re overthinking this. She’s not avoiding either of us. Reni is trying to solve your parents’ assassinations. Give Reni some time. She’ll come back, okay?”

Alina pouts. “Are you sure it’s not because I was telling her that I really do have feelings for her before she went after the one that escaped?”

“Alina,” Nalia warns. 

“Nalia,” Alina mocks the warning tone. 

“ Alina ,” Nalia hisses, squeezing Alina’s hands. 

“Nalia I’m telling you I think—”

Nalia sighs, standing up and turning away from Alina. “Okay, look,” Nalia says, walking back toward her desk and bracing her hands on it after turning back to face Alina. “I get that you’re worried about Reni and you’re worried about your friendship but you just have to trust her, okay?”

“Nalia, please tell me—”

“No, Alina,” Nalia sighs again, closing her eyes. “You and Reni need to talk. I’m not telling you anything Reni told me. That’s for you two to talk about.”

“Okay this is making me think she doesn’t have feelings for me and if I talk to her about it, it’s just going to screw everything up and I just shouldn’t do it.”

“Oh for fuck’s sake!” Nalia groans. “Just talk to her!”

“Do you want me to wait for her or talk to her?”

Nalia glares at Alina, rolling her eyes when she sees Alina’s almost imperceptible smirk. “You’re a pain, Alina. A pain .”

When Alina doesn’t conjure up a retort, Nalia sits down at her desk, fiddling with her latest experiment. It sparks, exploding into a cloud of dust. 

“ Dammit ,” Nalia hisses, standing up and brushing dust from her robes. 

“What is it you’re trying to do?” Alina asks, standing up to help Nalia clean off her robes, her hands and eyes lingering a little too long, trying to imagine what Reni would think if Alina went for Nalia.

“She’d be jealous,” Nalia says, removing Alina’s hands. 

Alina flushes, staring up into Nalia’s eyes. “What? What do you… How?”

Nalia rolls her eyes. “I know how you feel about her and it’s pretty easy to guess what you’re thinking when you’re looking at me like that , Alina,” Nalia sweeps up the dust on her desk and clumps it together with her magic, making it crystalize. “And I’m trying to create long term armor made from magic.”

Nalia looks up at the strangely quiet Alina. Her eyes dart around, looking anywhere but Nalia. “I thought constructs weaken over time so we couldn’t make long term magic armor,” Alina mumbles, still hovering near Nalia, occasionally stealing glances.

Reni would be jealous, surely. If not because of Alina sleeping with someone else, than because of Nalia sleeping with Alina. 

“Well I’m trying to find a way,” Nalia says, sighing when she looks back down at her desk, resting her palms on the wood. “I’m not Reni. Whatever you’re thinking, you’ll actually regret it, okay?”

“I know. I know . I don’t want to screw up our friendship. It’s new and I don’t…” Alina trails off.

Nalia looks so pretty like this. And Reni is avoiding Alina and Nalia is here and saved her life. She looks amazing in those robes and why is Alina even considering doing anything with Nalia? Nalia isn’t Reni. 

“Stop looking at me like that Alina,” Nalia warns as Alina staggers closer. 

“Just hold me?” Alina asks, her voice weak and pitiful and unlike her. 

Nalia sighs and wraps Alina in a hug. “Just tell her how you feel, Alina.”

 

– – – – –

 

Dyla leans in the doorway leading from Reni’s office to her bed chambers, smiling. Reni wraps her arms around Dyla’s waist, pressing her face into Dyla’s neck. 

“You smell like blood,” Reni mumbles, ignoring the uncomfortable twist in her chest. 

“I had a job, love,” Dyla says, threading her fingers through Reni’s hair and pulling back so Reni looks at her. 

Reni lets herself be pulled into her bed chambers and slammed up against the door after it closes. Reni fumbles for the lock, gasping at every kiss Dyla leaves on her neck. 

“Oh look at that, love,” Dyla hums, a mocking smile spread on her lips. “You’re finally sick of people walking into your office and interrupting us? Took you long enough. I’ve been waiting for this for a week and a half.”

Reni glares at Dyla, tugging at the straps to loosen Dyla’s armor. The leather unbuckles, clattering to the floor. 

Dyla knocks on Reni’s metal chestplate. “Let me in please, Reni,” she says softly, grinning as Reni snorts and smiles, shaking her head slightly. 

Reni has gotten mostly used to the sudden shifts in Dyla’s behavior. Sometimes, in moments like this, it’s sweet, a little silly. Other times it makes Reni’s stomach twist with discomfort and disgust. 

Reni unbuckles her armor, letting Dyla remove it and set it down next to the door. Reni pulls Dyla into a proper kiss, her hands traveling across Dyla’s hips, under her shirt, and up her back. 

“Patience, Reni,” Dyla whispers against Reni’s lips, trailing her fingers over the scars on Reni’s upper collarbone. 

Reni frowns when her fingers reach a bandage wrap around Dyla’s mid torso. She pulls back, moving to rest on hand on Dyla’s shoulder while the other cups Dyla’s jaw. “What happened?”

“I was punished for being late to a meeting by a few seconds. It’s fine, nothing major.”

“Nothing— Nothing major ?” Reni sighs, shaking her head. “You need to—”

“Reni, love, we’ve been over this,” Dyla whispers, one of her hands resting on the wrist of Reni’s hand that cups Dyla’s jaw. “I cannot get out without first dismantling them and I can’t dismantle them without support from the other enforcers. I can’t do anything. And don’t you even start with the “I’ll have Herbin help you” bullshit.”

“Fuck, Dyla,” Reni whispers. 

“That was my plan but you had to ruin it by being yourself,” Dyla whispers back, pulling Reni in for a quick kiss. 

“ That isn’t what I meant and you know it,” Reni mumbles, letting Dyla pull her shirt and chest binder off.

Dyla sucks in a breath. “I don’t think I’ll ever be used to these,” she says, running her fingers over the still pink scars Plantatos gave her. “I would kill her if you didn’t do it already.”

Reni smiles. Dyla had said this every other time she’d seen Reni without her shirt on. Every time, it makes Reni’s heart surge. The love fills up her chest, right between her lungs, threatening to spill up her throat and out her mouth. Reni keeps it down. 

Sharp, stinging pain stems from Reni’s neck. Reni is brought back to herself, groaning as Dyla bites her neck. “A little birdy told me you’ve been a good little captain and kept your distance from Alina,” Dyla whispers as she soothes the bite with soft kisses. 

“Of course,” Reni mumbles, one hand bracing on the door while the other threads into Dyla’s hair, “you asked me to.”

Dyla hums, nodding. “I did but that doesn’t mean you had to. She is your best friend.”

“You’re my fiance,” Reni counters, her eyes gently closed as she rests her head against the door. “You’re more important.”

“Remember how you thought I was dead and you fell in—” 

Reni pulls Dyla’s hair, leading her into a kiss. “Don’t say it,” she begs against Dyla’s lips. “Why are you even bringing her up when we’re—”

“When I have you pressed up against your door like this? When you’re halfway to begging me to touch you?” Dyla says as she undoes Reni’s chest binder.

Reni grumbles, gasping when Dyla squeezes her left breast. “Just don’t talk about her. Please .”

“Oh but what would she think, love?” Dyla asks, pinching Reni’s nipple between her thumb, forefinger, and middle finger, carefully twisting. “What would she think if she stumbled in on us? On you gasping and whimpering and moaning because of someone who’s supposedly dead? Do you think she’d realize you love me more than you love her? Do you think it’ll break her?”

“Dyla,” Reni whimpers, moving both hands to grip Dyla’s shoulders from behind. “Day, please stop. Please .”

“ Tsk. Tsk. Of course it would,” Dyla continues, slowly descending to kiss Reni’s neck and collarbone. “It would destroy her to see you with me. And then, on top of it, she’d probably figure out I’m the assassin who killed her parents. Oh she’d hate you for that, love.”

Gasps and whimpers escape from Reni’s lips. Her knees shake as Dyla uses her other hand to untie Reni’s pants. “Day…” Reni mumbles, staring up at her ceiling. 

Why isn’t what Dyla says turning Reni off? It should. Reni should be pushing Dyla away for bringing Alina up but Reni still desperately clings to Dyla, keeping them pressed together. 

“You’re too easy, love,” Dyla whispers, pulling out of Reni’s reach.

Reni’s pants slip slightly down now that they’re loosened. She flushes, slowly looking at Dyla again. Dyla is cocky, confident, in control. Reni groans as pure electricity shoots up the center of her chest. 

Dyla slowly takes off her shirt, making a show of it. She grins when Reni flushes, hungerly watching Dyla’s movements. 

Reni groans, pulling off her pants and tossing them to the side. She strides up to Dyla, cupping her cheeks and desperately kissing her. “Don’t mention her anymore, Day,” Reni hisses against Dyla’s lips. “You’re the only thing that matters. You are my world.”

Dyla grins, shoving Reni into a sitting position on her bed. Dyla climbs into Reni’s lap, wrapping her arms around Reni’s neck. “You’re right, love,” she says, planting kisses down Reni’s neck, “I am your world.”

Reni sighs, her hands finding their way to Dyla’s hips. After a moment she rubs up and down Dyla’s back. 

“Lay on your back, Reni,” Dyla commands, standing up and watching Reni move.

Reni nods, keeping her eyes on Dyla as she takes off her pants. Dyla climbs on top of Reni, straddling her hips. 

There’s a knock on the door to Reni’s office. “Reni?” Alina calls, her voice barely audible through Reni’s bedroom door. “Reni, I need to talk to you. It’s important.”

Reni starts to sit up, opening her mouth. She’s shoved back down, staring up at Dyla as she clamps her hand over Reni’s mouth. “Be a good girl and don’t say anything, love,” Dyla whispers in her ear. 

Dyla bites down on Reni’s neck, slowly letting her hand drift from Reni’s mouth to her side. Reni nods, trying to control her desperate gasping breaths. 

“Come on Reni!” Alina snaps, slamming her fist against the door. “It’s important and I’m sick of you ignoring me. Open this Gods damned door.”

Dyla squeeze’s Reni’s side, making her gasp. Reni closes her eyes, rocking her hips up into Dyla’s pelvis. “Stop teasing me, Dyla,” Reni whispers, grabbing Dyla’s hips and pulling her down to grind against Reni. “You’ve been teasing me for a week. I’m sick of it.”

“Reni, please,” Alina says, sniffling. 

Dyla sucks on Reni’s breast, squeezing her side. Reni moans, her eyes rolling back in her head. She grinds Dyla against herself again. “Keep going, Day,” Reni whispers. “Just… keep going.”

“Good girl,” Dyla says softly, slipping her hand down Reni’s thigh. “Let me take care of you.”

Reni’s breath hitches. She bites her lip, squirming against Dyla’s touch. 

“Reni, I… I know you’re—” Alina is cut off when Dyla draws a loud moan out of Reni. “Oh… you’re— Right… I’ll go.”

Dyla grins, slipping her fingers between Reni’s legs. “She sounds disappointed, doesn’t she love? Just like I thought she would be.”

Dyla trails her fingers up Reni’s inner thigh, stopping just before her vulva. Reni lets out a shaky breath, shifting her hips up slightly. “Don’t make me beg, Day, please.”

“Oh but I’d love to hear your pretty voice begging for me, my love.”

Reni groans at the lack of proper stimulation, trying to grind herself on Dyla’s hand but Dyla firmly grips Reni’s thighs, keeping her in place. “Dyla,” Reni whimpers between desperate gasps for breath

Dyla grins, pressing her thumb against Reni’s and rubbing. She leans down, right against Reni’s ear. “You’re so desperate… I wish she could see the state you’re in right now. I almost want to open those doors, show her who makes you whimper and shake like this.”

“D–don’t do that,” Reni stutters, squeezing Dyla’s hips. “ Please . She can’t know. She can’t see this. She can’t see me like this.”

Dyla lets out a soft chuckle. She slowly rubs her thumb in a small circle over Reni’s thigh. “Does it turn you on? The thought of Alina walking in and seeing the state you’re in. Moaning, gasping, begging for me, shaking and whimpering and desperate… does the thought of her walking in and seeing you like this make you all hot, love?”

Reni groans, her back arching slightly. She moves a hand from Dyla’s hip and grips the sheets so hard that her knuckles turn white. “St–stop talking about her. Please. Just… I want you to be the only thing on my mind, Dyla. Just you, not Alina—not my best friend. Just you. I don’t want her here. I don’t want you to make me think about her. I don’t want to think about her,” Reni barely manages to say between her gasps and moans.

Dyla presses her thumb harder against Reni, still rubbing the same small circle. She leans down again, letting her lips brush against Reni’s cheek. “But you can’t help thinking about her, can you Reni? She just walked right up to your door, knocking, desperate to talk to you… and then here you are, a mess, moaning because I’m touching you. Her parents’ killer, reducing her best friend to a boneless mess.”

Reni lets out a high pitched whimper. The words that Dyla said hit her straight in the stomach. A mixture of shame, arousal, and guilt fills her chest. She gasps, grinding herself against Dyla. 

Reni’s voice is soft and high pitched when she speaks, desperation and shame filling her words. She still keeps her eyes shut, trying to think about Dyla and not Alina. “Y–you aren’t helping, Day… p–please… stop talking about her.”

Dyla finally allows one of her hands to gently stroke up and down Reni’s vulva, grining as she spreads Reni’s with each stroke of her fingers. “It turns you on, love. I can tell. I know you’re imagining it.”

Reni whines, arching her body. Heat spreads through her body, focusing between her thighs. It makes it hard to think, makes her vision fuzzy, makes her breathing labored and shaky. Her thoughts are still racing with the idea of Alina walking in, seeing her and hearing her like this. The mixture of shame and excitement in her chest only grows as her thoughts drift to the what-ifs. 

Reni squeezes her eyes shut, her grip on the sheets getting tighter. In her mind she sees Alina standing in her doorway, staring at her, mouth agape. She can see Alina screaming in anger, demanding Dyla be arrested, or for Dyla to leave. She can see Alina joining them, competing with Dyla for Reni’s attention.

Dyla smiles, rubbing Reni a little faster. Her free hand slides up from Reni’s side to gently grip her neck. She squeezes just a little to make it harder to breathe. 

Dyla leans down, still smiling, still keeping Reni in her place. “And you want all of it, don’t you, love? You want me to keep talking about her. You want me to keep talking about Alina,” she taunts.

“No,” Reni whispers, trying to get herself to believe it even as her stomach starts that familiar descent into orgasm. “No, I really don’t. I don’t want to think about her. Not with you. Please , not with you.”

“Liar,” Dyla says, thrusting her fingers and curling them in Reni’s vagina.

Reni’s toes curl. She gasps, her eyes fluttering. She bites her lip, trying to stop herself from letting the fantasy of Alina wanting and even joining them take over her mind.

Reni lets out a shaky whimper. Her thoughts are completely overwhelmed with the fantasy. In her head, Reni sees Alina staring at her, flushed, breathing shaky and labored. She can see her staring at where Dyla touches her, staring longingly with parted lips.

Dyla squeezes Reni’s throat even tighter, grinning when Reni lets out a loud gasp. “Don’t fight it, love. Be honest with yourself. You want her to join us. You want her to watch you, to see you cum because of me. You want her to want you,” Dyla punctuates each sentence with deep thrusts of her fingers, curling deep within Reni’s vagina. 

Reni can feel her thoughts start to slip. They blur, blending her fantasies and the real world into one. In her head she sees Alina in the room with them, biting her lip and letting out soft sighs as she stares at Reni. She can see Alina watching the scene, flushed, breathing shaky and labored as she tries to contain her own sounds. Reni is desperate to imagine Alina wanting her, wanting to touch her. In her fantasy, Alina moves closer, crawling onto the bed with them. Reni gasps, moaning softly as she sees Alina in her mind, climbing up until she’s right next to her.

“Of course I do,” Reni half whispers, half moans. “Of course I want her to want me. But you’re my fiance. Dyla I’m yours, not hers.”

Dyla lets out a soft, mocking chuckle. She moves her hand from Reni’s neck to her mouth, her fingers tracing along Reni’s bottom lip. “Oh? Is that why you’re letting me turn you into this shaking, whimpering mess? Because you belong to me? You don’t want anyone else—not even Alina—because you belong to the assassin who killed her parents, who you absolutely shouldn’t love.”

“Day…” Reni whimpers, her entire body tensing as her stomach coils tighter and tighter. “Please…”

Dyla smirks, leaning down to whisper in Reni’s ear. “Please what, love? Please stop? Please don’t mention Alina? Please don’t bring up your best friend when I have you like this? Please what, Reni? Use your words, love. Be a good girl and tell me exactly what you want.”

“Please let me cum,” Reni manages to say between hitched moans. 

Dyla grins, her fingers pumping into Reni faster and faster. “There’s a good girl, asking so nicely. Since you asked so politely, how could I possibly deny you, my love?”

Bright, blinding pleasure spirals through Reni’s body, rapidly tightening then loosening her muscles until she’s a puddle beneath Dyla.

Dyla slowly pulls her fingers out of Reni, trailing them up her stomach and leaving a sticky trail on her skin. “Oh my… look at you. My poor, beautiful, over-stimulated Reni. You’re all worn out, love. All boneless, all exhausted, all limp under me,” Dyla says, grinning as she stares down at the beautiful mess Reni is, the mess she made of Reni.

“It’s your turn, next time,” Reni mumbles, grabbing Dyla and pulling her into a tight hug as she rests her head over Dyla’s heart. “You’re staying the rest of the night, right?”

“Of course I am, Reni,” Dyla whispers, resting her chin on top of Reni’s head as they settle into Reni’s bed. “But I will have to leave very early in the morning, probably before you’re awake. ‘Kay?”

Reni nods, closing her eyes and humming softly. “M’kay. Just wake me up before you go?”

“Of course, Reni. Of course.”

Notes:

Author’s Note: Because the last chapter was significantly shorter than normal, I decided to post this one too.❤️
Sincerely,
Archz
(3383 Words)

Chapter 35: Thirty-Two

“So that was a bust,” Nalia mutters, more to herself than to Alina as they walk back into the castle from the gardens, carrying the broken pieces of Nalia’s latest rendition of her magic armor.

“So what’s next? A different set of sigils? Different materials? Are we giving up?” Alina asks, bumping her shoulder into Nalia’s.

Nalia rolls her eyes, glancing at Alina out of the corner of her eye. Alina has been acting… off since they’d had the conversation about Alina confronting Reni with her feelings. She’s shut down, stopping talking to virtually anyone save for Nalia. As much as Nalia appreciates their new friendship, Alina has been clinging to her for just under a week.  

“What I’d really like is to pick through Arivel’s library to see what kind of information they may have.”

“To look for ancient rituals for magic armor?” Alina asks, snorting as they walk up a staircase. 

“Yes, actually, I think it would be—” Nalia cuts herself off when she sees Reni, reading through some reports as she walks.

Reni freezes and looks up, eyes wide when she spots Alina and Nalia. Reni quickly turns on her heel and walks back the way she came, disappearing down the hall before Nalia can really process that Reni was there .

“Okay, Alina,” Nalia says, frowning, “Reni might be avoiding us.”

“Yeah…” Alina mumbles, staring at the floor. 

“Alina?” Nalia turns full, setting down her wooden basket of scorched metal and taking Alina’s from her, setting it down next to the first basket. “What aren’t you telling me? A week ago you were trying to convince me that she’s avoiding us and now you’re just… What’s wrong, Alina?”

“When I went to go see her after we finished that day,” Alina starts, taking a shaky breath, “I got to her door and I could hear her… she was…”

“Shit,” Nalia says, grabbing Alina’s shoulders and pulling her into a hug. “I’m sorry you heard that.”

“Why is she acting like this, Nalia? She’s never avoided me for this long, even after fights!” Alina sobs, clutching Nalia’s robes like they’ll save her from drowning in her tears. 

“I don’t know, Alina. I really don’t.”

Alina shakes her head. “Since my parents’ assassinations, it’s been like this. Something is happening to her. She’s not acting right. Something must have happened when she confronted my parents’ killer. That assassin must have done something to Reni!”

Nalia rubs Alina’s back, trying to slow her racing thoughts. “Hey, hey,” she soothes, combing one hand through Alina’s hair. “Slow down, Alina. We don’t know that.”

“It’s the only explanation that makes sense!”

“Alina.”

“Nalia, please!”

“Alina, breathe,” Nalia whispers, rubbing her free hand up and down Alina’s spine. “ In . Out . Just like that. In and out. In and out.”

“Why is she doing this to me?” Alina sobs against Nalia’s chest. 

“I don’t know, Alina. I really don’t.”

 

– – – – –

 

Kezu sits across from Reni in Reni’s office, Kezu’s right hand holding her head as she leans her elbow on Reni’s desk. 

“So for your knighting you—Kezu,” Reni snaps, setting the papers down and glaring at Kezu. “I need you to focus.”

Kezu flushes, fiddling with the medal Dreniana designed for her. “Sorry, Reni. Please continue.”

“No, it’s fine,” Reni sighs, rubbing her hand down her face. “Look, kid, I want to ask you something. It’s not something you have to do but I want you to.”

“‘Kay?” Kezu tilts her head.

“I want you to take my last name.”

Kezu blinks a few times and snorts. “I thought you were going to ask over—like—a nice meal or something.”

Reni stares at Kezu. “You knew?”

“Endrus and Lium.”

“Assholes,” Reni mumbles under her breath, resting her face in her hands. 

“The answer is yes, Reni,” Kezu says softly, leaning back in her chair. “I will take your last name.”

Reni smiles, sliding a scroll marked with Arivel’s emblem across her desk to Kezu. “This is just the official document. I’ve already signed everything I need to so the rest is up to you.”

Kezu takes the scroll and stands. “Thank you Reni,” she flashes Reni a tight lipped smile. “And I’m sorry.”

“What—” Reni starts, barely halfway out of her chair when Nalia and Alina walk in and Kezu walks out. “ Shit .”

The fantasy Dyla planted in Reni’s mind comes barreling back into her conscious thoughts as soon as Reni looks at Alina. Reni clenches the arms of her chair as she sits down. Reni looks anywhere but Alina, safely settling on Nalia’s eyes, barely containing her anger and concern. 

“Reni,” Nalia says, carefully sliding into the chair Kezu vacated while Alina stands frozen behind the second chair, “we need to talk.”

“Make an appointment,” Reni says, focusing on the mountains of paperwork and reports on her desk. 

Reni doesn’t look up. What she said is brutal, harsh, down-right evil, but she’s doing this for Dyla. Gods above Dyla . The assassin who killed the parents of Reni’s best friend. The girl who Reni thought was dead for eight years. Her fiance. 

Reni can feel the shadows of Dyla’s hands trailing down her back, lighting her skin with magic. Dark, shadowy, heavy magic. Dyla must be in Reni’s bed chambers, listening in.

Reni can perfectly picture Dyla. Sitting cross-legged on Reni’s bed, her chin resting in the palm of one hand as she watches through the shadows in Reni’s office. 

Another phantom hand trails down Reni’s back, over her hip, and down her thigh. Reni can barely contain her shudder. 

Alina grips the back of the chair in front of her, her knuckles turning white as she clenches her hand tighter and tighter around the wood. She bites her lip hard enough to leave deep marks. 

This is wrong. Reni would never speak to Alina that way. Reni has never been so mean, so rude. She’s never pushed Alina away. And yet here she is, refusing to make eye contact, refusing to even acknowledge that Alina is in front of her. The shame of it threatens to eat Reni alive.

“Dead below, Reni!” Alina snaps, throwing her hands into the air. “Will you just look at me? I just want to talk! You haven’t talked to me for two weeks! You won’t even look at me for more than ten seconds! You’re my best friend, Reni, and you’re just— You’re not acting like yourself. Please, Reni, you’re scaring me.”

Reni swallows hard. Her head jerks up on its own, her eyes locking right with Alina’s. Her mouth opens and closes like she’s a damn fish. A phantom hand possessively grips Reni’s chin, pulling her back into her new reality. Dyla.

A tickle runs down Reni’s back. Nalia’s magic. Reni glances over at Nalia, setting her lips in a thin line as she feels Nalia’s magic scan her, trying to poke and prod Reni for anything that’s wrong. 

It almost makes Reni laugh. She’s sure that Nalia can’t sense Dyla’s magic. It’s extremely weak compared to Nalia’s. All Nalia’s magic will do is just overpower what she can feel of Dyla’s. 

“There’s nothing wrong with me,” Reni says, keeping her voice level as she looks back at her paperwork. “There’s nothing for you to worry about. Either of you.”

“Bullshit!” Alina shouts, slamming her hands onto the back of the chair in front of her.

“This all started after you fought that assassin,” Nalia says, staring Reni down. “Tell us what happened. Now .”

Dyla moves one phantom hand across Reni’s stomach while the other remains possessively on Reni’s chin. Reni shakes her head, rolling her eyes. “I fought the asshole, they punched me, they got away. That’s it .”

“That’s it?” Nalia frowns, standing up and putting her hands on her hips. “The assassin got away? And they just… punched you? You’re telling me that’s all that happened that day. Nothing else?”

“You could tell them,” Dyla’s shadows whisper in Reni’s ear. “You could tell them how we kissed. How you let me go. How we’ve been fucking . How Alina heard us. You could tell them, love .”

Reni clenches her hand around her pen hard enough for the wood to creak. She shakes her head again, staring blankly down at her paperwork.

Alina sighs, stepping around the second chair and stopping when she stands next to Nalia. She stares at the floor, hands clenching and unclenching at her side.

Alina drops all pretense of patience and decorum, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at Reni. “Fine. You don’t want to talk about the assassin? Fine. Whatever. But you are going to talk about something . You are going to tell either Nalia or me what is going through your mind because you are not okay, Reni. Something happened to you that day. You look exhausted. You’re angry and mean. You refuse to talk. Hell, you won’t even look me in the eye right now. You—”

Reni sets her pen down and meets Alina’s glare. She grits her teeth and glares back, her own eyes hard and cold. “I am fine , Alina. You’re overreacting. I am not a damn glass vase that you need to protect. I am fine and there’s nothing going on. I haven’t been sleeping well, that’s it. Stop worrying about me, I don’t need your damn pity or your damn concern. I can take care of myself. I always have.”

Alina scoffs, storming out of Reni’s office. Nalia blinks a few times. “Alina, wait,” Nalia calls, following Alina out into the hall. 

Reni groans, burying her head in her hands.

“Such a good girl,” Dyla says, her hands—her real hands—massaging Reni’s shoulders. “I’m so proud of you.”

Reni leans her head back, resting it on Dyla’s stomach. She closes her eyes, sighing softly as Dyla massages the tight knots in Reni’s shoulders. 

“You’re not wearing your armor,” Dyla murmurs.

“I’m off duty. Don’t need to.”

Dyla rubs away any sort of doubt of what Reni just did, about how Dyla is changing her, about the fact that Reni just told two of her best friends to make an appointment to talk to her. None of that matters now that Dyla’s hands are kneading Reni’s sore muscles.

Dyla keeps rubbing and kneading Reni’s neck and shoulders, humming softly to herself as she works out the knots. She gently traces her fingers up the side of Reni’s neck, over her chin, and along her jaw. Dyla smiles, tilting Reni’s face towards her.

“You’re my good girl,” Dyla whispers against Reni’s lips, “aren’t you?”

Plantatos flashes in Reni’s mind before she can stop the memories. Reni grits her teeth, shaking Plantatos from her head. Dyla isn’t like her. It’s Dyla. She may not be the sweet, kind, loving girl she was before the fire, but she’s still Dyla.

“Reni?” Dyla looks between Reni’s eyes, that wonderful softer version of her back again. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

Reni shakes her head. “Bad memories.”

“I’m sorry, Reni,” Dyla whispers, kissing Reni’s forehead. 

“No, it’s not your fault. They just come up sometimes. It’s nothing, Day.”

“Are you lying to me, Reni?” 

“No,” Reni says softly. “No, I promise, the memories just come back sometimes. It has nothing to do with anything you are or aren’t doing. You’re perfect.”

Perfect.

Notes:

Author’s Note: It’s so weird to me that you love these characters just as much as I do. Reni was originally a D&D character from a one-shot my friends and I did a few years ago. I was so obsessed with her I kept writing little bits and pieces about her. It’s been just over five months since I officially started writing this story—book? Novel? In my document it’s 73,000 words and counting and I’ve posted just about 70,000 words so it’s exceeded the threshold for a novel… That’s weird to think about tbh—and I’m nowhere near finished.

Sincerely,

Archz

(1879 Words)

P.S. Sorry about my little tangent there about word count. I’m an author irl too. At least, I’m trying to be. The publishing process is a bitch.

Chapter 36: Thirty-Three

“Something is definitely wrong,” Nalia says, tapping her pen on her desk as she stares off into space.

There’s nothing for you to worry about.

Reni’s words, her denial of what Nalia and Alina can so clearly see, echoes in Alina’s mind. Is Alina being too pushy? Too needy? Maybe Alina should just give Reni the space she so clearly wants.

A minuscule crystal hits Alina’s forehead, falling into her lap. Alina looks up at Nalia with wide eyes. “What was that for?”

“If you’re thinking that you’re wrong about Reni not being okay,” Nalia says, standing up from her desk and sitting next to Alina on the couch, “you aren’t. You’re right Alina. Something is clearly wrong with her. You saw what she was like. That’s not Reni. That’s not the Reni we know.”

“Did you get anything from your magic?”

Nalia sighs, patting Alina’s knee. “No, I didn’t. There was nothing magically wrong with her. Maybe she’s being threatened?”

Alina stares down into her lap, at the crystal still between her fingers. Reni has to be being threatened, there is no other explanation for her behavior. Reni is not acting like Reni. She’s angry and cold and mean. Nothing like the Reni that Alina knows, nothing like the Reni that Alina grew up with. Her Reni is sweet, caring, and protective. The cold, bitter, violent woman from before was not her Reni. 

Alina sighs, clenching the tiny crystal in her palm as a frown spreads across her face. She clenches it so tightly it draws blood. 

Nalia gently opens Alina’s hand, tossing the crystal onto the nearby table and grabbing a cloth to wrap around the small wound on Alina’s palm. “What are you thinking?” Nalia asks, kneeling in front of Alina with her arms resting across Alina’s knees. 

“I think we need to get Reni to talk to us.”

“She isn’t going to,” Nalia sighs, resting her chin on her arms. “At least, not willingly.”

“So we give her a reason to.”

Nalia snorts. “Like what?”

“Some sort of emergency? I don’t know. I haven’t exactly had the time to think about it, Nalia .”

“Okay so this is a last resort,” Nalia says after a long while of pondering, “and we don’t do this unless we don’t have any other option. But do you remember that ball a while ago, the one right before Reni left with Prince Vycious to talk with Plantatos?”

Alina nods, frowning. “Yes. Why? ”

“She got pissed because a prince was getting too handsy, right?”

“Where are you going with this, Nalia?” Alina asks, biting her lip as she frowns.

“We find some prince,” Nalia says, standing up and pacing back and forth on the carpet in the center of her study, “someone you trust . You guys make a big deal out of him getting you drunk—which you won’t be—and he brings you up to your chambers. I’ll make sure Reni bites and follows. Then I’ll meet you in your chambers and we corner Reni. Only as a last resort.”

Alina stares at Nalia for several long moments, blinking as she processes Nalia’s words. She finally glances over at the ground, clenching her jaw. Alina hates this, hates the thought that it might have to come to this , but they don't have any other options. Reni isn't going to talk, and they have to make her talk. 

Alina nods, keeping her eyes pinned to the ground. “As a last resort,” she repeats, a quiet whisper under her breath.

Nalia nods, sitting back down on the couch next to Alina. She wraps an arm around Alina and pulls her into a tight side hug, resting her chin on top of Alina’s head. “We don’t do it unless we absolutely have to. It's a last resort, Alina. I swear .”

Alina nods, closing her eyes. “I just hate that we even have to consider it,” she whispers into Nalia’s shoulder.

Alina sits in silence next to Nalia, her mind wandering once again to thoughts of Reni. She doesn’t quite get it. Reni has always been so caring and loving, so protective. It’s in her nature to protect Alina, to do anything to make sure Alina is safe. But now she seems so… careless . She’s cold and distant, refusing to even look Alina in the eye. 

Alina doesn’t hate her. Of course Alina doesn’t hate her. But Alina is mad at Reni. Furious . Furious and hurt .

Reni is her best friend . Alina’s rock. Her protector. Her confidant. Her favorite person to be around. Reni doesn’t act like this. Reni has never acted like this. She’s never… Dyla’s funeral. After Dyla’s funeral Reni was closed off like this. But Reni wasn’t that close to Alina’s parents, was she? 

No . Alina’s parents loved Reni because she saved all of their children—not just Alina—so many times it’s hard to count. They loved her because she’s a Vel. Reni loved them because they treated her like family. But this isn’t like when Reni’s mother died or even when her father died. 

Reni gets quiet when she’s grieving. She doesn’t get angry. She doesn’t lash out. She doesn’t tell her best friends to make a damn appointment to talk to her.

So what the fuck did that assassin do to Reni? 

Alina’s Reni. The love of her life. Her Captain. Her knight. Her best friend. Her world .

This helplessness is going to kill Alina if they don’t figure out what’s wrong with Reni soon. They have to do something . Something that hopefully isn’t tricking Reni into talking to them by thinking some prince is going to take advantage of Alina and assault her. 

Reni needs to come back to Alina. Alina needs Reni to come back to her. She couldn’t bear to live without Reni in her life. She couldn’t do it. Never in a million years.

Notes:

Author’s Note: What’s your favorite part so far? Favorite character? Least favorite character. For me—besides Reni—the character I love to write the most is actually Dyla. There’s a few reasons but revealing any of them would be spoilers. My least favorite currently is… well… Reni. Mostly just because she’s being stupid and even though I’m technically in control of the story, she doesn’t seem to want to snap out of her stupidity. And for my favorite part, I refer you to Chapter Sixteen. AKA Alina finally admits to herself she’s in love with Reni.

Sincerely,

Archz

(975 Words)

P.S. This chapter is super fucking short so I’m sorry about that. I’ll post the next one as well as penance.

Chapter 37: Thirty-Four

“Why is the ceremonial armor so heavy?” Kezu moans, watching Reni through the mirror as she straps Kezu into her new gold and steel ceremonial armor, with rubies inlaid—at Dreniana’s suggestion. 

“Because it’s designed to look pretty but it’s not designed to be even moderately comfortable,” Reni answers, tightening layers of straps and covering them with more plates of armor. 

“And why can’t I wear my normal armor?”

Reni sighs, shaking her head. “Because it’s tradition for knights to wear their ceremonial armor for their knightings and retirements.”

“That’s a bullshit tradition,” Kezu complains, rolling her still healing shoulder to test it under the weight of the metal. “In Grent it’s just a pat on the back and a ‘go fight for your home.’”

“Well, we aren’t at war so that’s not how we do things here.”

Kezu grumbles under her breath, staying silent for a moment Reni is thankful for. It allows her to finish strapping Kezu’s ceremonial armor on.

“Why are you avoiding Alina?” Kezu asks, crossing her arms. “ And Nalia? Dren is on my case about it. They’re both apparently moping.”

“I’m focusing on the investigation,” Reni lies, pulling Kezu’s sword belt tighter than it needs to be. 

“Liar,” Kezu mutters under her breath.

“What was that?” Reni snaps, glaring at Kezu.

“I called you a liar, Reni,” Kezu snaps back, attempting to cross her arms over her chest. “I’m not stupid. I know you’re avoiding them. I thought when they talked to you the other day, you made up with them. This isn’t like you, Reni.”

Reni scoffs, shaking her head. “Kid, you don’t know jack shit about me.”

“I know enough about you to know that you aren’t an asshole!”

“Back off, Kezu,” Reni says, gripping the rim of Kezu’s chestplate, pulling her closer so Reni can get up in her face. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re just a kid.”

Kezu’s bottom lip quivers. She shoves Reni’s hand away, shaking her head. “I don’t get why you’re being like this. It’s not right.”

Kezu storms out of Reni’s office, slamming the door closed behind her. 

Is there something wrong with Reni? Is she really acting that differently? Is Dyla changing her that much?

She can’t be. Even though she’s who she is now, she’s still Dyla. She’s still the girl Reni has loved her entire life, even if she didn’t know it, even when Dyla was thought to be dead.  

“Are you in your head, love?” Dyla asks, wrapping her arms around Reni’s neck. 

Reni hums, closing her eyes and sighing. “Not anymore.”

Dyla just nods, tracing the edges of Reni’s armor. She gently kisses the top of Reni’s head, sighing into her hair.

“You seem to always be around,” Reni murmurs, letting out a sigh of her own. “Doesn’t your boss notice?”

Reni feels Dyla smile against her scalp. “I finish my contracts quickly and then I come here. What would normally take me all day or all night, only takes me a couple hours. I spend the rest of my time exploring, sleeping, or being with you.”

Reni nods. It makes sense. Dyla loves her so much that she makes quick work of her jobs and then comes to see Reni. Reni loves that. She loves being loved enough by someone that they’d do that for her. It makes her heart sing in that fiery way that spreads through her whole chest. 

Who cares if it’s a little creepy that Dyla is always around? It means she always knows when Reni needs comfort or reassurance. 

“Love,” Dyla whispers in Reni’s ear. “I think we should get married.”

When Reni doesn’t say anything, Dyla continues, “I know someone who can officiate it and get it into records without anyone questioning who the certificate is for. It’ll just be us and the officiant.”

Reni nods, smiling softly. “Yes. That sounds perfect, Dyla.”

Perfect. 

 

– – – – –

They’re getting married. Reni is finally going to marry the love of her life, her soulmate, her person. What will Dyla wear? Something delicate and flowy? Something sharp and dangerous? Something that combines both?

“—Kezu Vel, you have proven yourself to be a strong, capable warrior with a kind heart and a righteous moral compass,” Vycious says, his new crown tipped slightly more to the left side of his head as he holds Kezu’s new sword at his side. “With these qualities—among many others—you have earned the right to join the ranks of Herbin’s royal guard.”

Reni chides herself as she stands a little straighter next to Vycious, watching Kezu kneel in front of him with her head bowed. Reni should have been paying attention. She shouldn’t have let herself get lost in thought like that. 

“Kezu Vel,” Vycious says, offering Kezu the hilt of her sword, “rise and join your fellow knights of the Herbin Royal Guard.”

Fuck . Reni shouts through the abyss in her mind. She should be helping Kezu celebrate. She should be planning a party for Kezu, not day dreaming about her wedding. 

Kezu stands, taking her sword with that confidence Reni would have never expected out of the thin girl she found only a couple months before. 

Kezu avoids Reni completely, instead opting to move directly for Dreniana who lets out a surprised yelp when Kezu hugs her around her waist and presses their foreheads together.

It hurts more than Reni would like to admit, that Kezu went to Dreniana first. Reni is Kezu’s guardian! The person who trained her! That deserves more than a passing glance pooling with so much anger, it almost has Reni flinching. 

All this over Reni’s recent change in priority? All this over something Kezu doesn’t know anything about? Something none of them know anything about. 

A flash of gold pulls Reni out of her spiral. Standing across the room, dressed in a white and gold suit with a gold mask, Dyla stands. Her hands of shadow soothe the tension developing in Reni’s shoulders and back, coaxing a deep breath from Reni. 

There she stands in her dangerous beauty, Reni’s soon-to-be-wife. Would she remain Dyla Lyne or would she change her name to Vel? Combine them? Dyla Lyne-Vel—Vel-Lyne?

Reni can’t decide what she wants more. Every option is just as enticing as the others. Every one makes Reni’s toes curl as she imagines the officiant reading it. 

Everything is just so perfect .

Notes:

Author’s Note: I hope this chapter—which is also shorter—being posted at the same time as the last, makes up for it. The next few chapters are going to end up being on the shorter side of things. Apologies in advance! Love you!

Sincerely,

Archz

(1063 Words)

Chapter 38: Thirty-Five

Reni wants to barge into Alina’s or Nalia’s room, demanding their help. She doesn’t know what to wear. Alina would know, she’s always known. Nalia would walk Reni through her choices and they’d come up with the logical decision together. 

Instead, Reni is alone in her room, staring at her wardrobe. What do you even wear to your marriage to your previously thought to be dead fiance? Not that Reni has many options to begin with. The only thing she ever wears to events is her formal uniform. She doesn’t have anything nice. 

Alina would summon one of the Von Dawn’s tailors. She’d have them get Reni a suit and adjust it for her on the spot. Nalia would weave one with her magic, making threads out of thin but durable crystals that would no doubt look amazing. 

A snort comes from behind Reni. “You’re in your undershirt and shorts, Reni,” Dyla says, crossing her arms over her chest as she leans on the wall next to Reni. “I hope you’re not planning to get married to me like that .”

Reni pouts, turning to glare at Dyla. “I don’t have anything nice to wear.”

“Reni,” Dyla says, laughing as she shakes her head. “I know . That’s why I got you something.”

“Mhm, sure. That’s why you’re in your leathers without any bags with said clothing or your own, for that matter?”

“Love, it’s already there ,” Dyla cups Reni’s cheek, smiling at her. “I didn’t trust you to not rip a hole in the pants on the way there.”

Reni gasps in mock offense, clutching her hand over her heart. “I am not that clumsy!”

“Reni, you’re an amazing fighter, but you’re not graceful. I’ve seen how you dance. It’s like you’re a dog wearing shoes for the first time.”

“I am not that bad!”

“You’re absolutely right,” a pause and that cocky smirk that makes Reni’s stomach twist, “you’re worse.”

Reni groans, burying her face in Dyla’s shoulder. “Damn you, Dyla. You’re so mean.”

“Oh, is my poor baby all sad?” Dyla asks in a condescending baby voice. 

Reni grumbles incoherently, nuzzling Dyla’s shoulder. 

Dyla chuckles and pulls Reni’s head back by her hair. “Come on pretty girl,” Dyla coos, stealing a kiss from Reni. 

Dyla tosses Reni a simple shirt and pants, waiting for her to put them on before slipping out the window of Reni’s chambers. Reni follows, sliding down the tiles of the slanted roof until her feet hit the decorative crenellations. 

Reni follows Dyla across the roof, watching Dyla easily pull herself up onto the next roof headed toward the wall separating the castle from Herbin’s city. Reni grits her teeth, running up to that next roof, jumping, and barely grabbing onto the edge. Reni pulls, grunting as her arms shake from the strain of pulling her heavy, muscular body up onto the next roof. 

Dyla grabs Reni’s arms, helping her the rest of the way up, laughing when Reni leans against her. “Tired already, love?”

“Why couldn’t I just leave like a normal person?” Reni asks, clutching her stomach as she forces herself to stand on her own. 

“Don’t you want to spend time with your soon to be wife?”

Reni doesn’t answer, instead walking across the roof toward Herbin’s city. Dyla catches up quickly, linking her arm with Reni’s. 

“Are you ignoring me now, Reni?” Dyla asks, pouting.

“ No ,” Reni sighs. “I’m just not exactly built for activities requiring high dexterity.”

“So you admit it?”

“What?”

Dyla giggles, poking Reni’s bicep. “That you aren’t graceful unless you’re fighting.”

Reni bites her lip, shaking her head but not denying it. 

Dyla grins victoriously, giving Reni a quick squeeze. “Admission is the first step toward improvement,’ Dyla teasingly sings.

They continue across the rooftops of Herbin’s castle, making their way toward the city. As they reach the wall, Dyla expertly climbs down the side of it, jumping down the last few feet. She waits expectantly for Reni who stands on the edge, looking like a goddess as she stares down at Dyla.

Dyla sighs in fond exasperation. “Come on, Reni. We both know you aren’t afraid of heights.”

Reni scoffs and rolls her eyes, climbing down the ladder built into the stone wall, pushing off and jumping down the last stretch, landing in a crouch and immediately standing. 

“How’s that for grace?” Reni asks, crossing her arms over her chest as she looks at Dyla.

Dyla raises her eyebrows, her eyes skimming over Reni. Dyla’s gaze is openly hungry, obviously appreciating Reni in her entirety. 

Dyla steps forward and places a hand on the small of Reni’s back, bringing her close. “Adequate, at best. Though I do quite like the look of you on your knees,” Dyla’s voice drops low, sending a jolt through Reni. 

Reni shivers and tries to step back, bumping into the side of the wall. Dyla moves with her, pressing her against the cold stone.

Reni lets out a sharp breath. “I’m not nor was I on my knees,” she whispers.

“Not yet.”

Reni opens her mouth to respond but her retort is cut off by Dyla’s lips against hers. Reni makes a soft noise of surprise, but it is quickly silenced by Dyla, who uses the opportunity to slip her tongue into Reni’s mouth. 

“Don’t worry love,” Dyla whispers into Reni’s ear, “I’ll have you on your knees by the end of the night.”

An involuntary shudder rocks through Reni. No matter how many times Dyla does this, it never stops making Reni’s knees weak.

Reni swallows harshly, shaking her head to clear it. She puts her hands on Dyla’s chest, pushing her away.

Reni forces a smirk. “Bold of you to assume I’d let you have that much control.”

“You know you will,” Dyla coos, gently pulling a stray strand of Reni’s hair. “You have before.”

“You took control,” Reni mumbles, shrugging slightly. “I didn’t give it to you.”

“Would you?”

“I… I don’t know,” Reni admits, sagging into Dyla’s steady comfort. 

Dyla smiles softly, gently gripping Reni’s chin and tilting her head up. Dyla looks into her eyes, studying Reni for a moment before leaning forward to rest their foreheads together. 

Reni closes her eyes, letting out a shaky breath. She can smell Dyla, the scent of leather and cinnamon filling her senses.

“That’s okay, Reni,” Dyla says softly. “I’m content taking control from you instead of having you give it to me. It’s more fun that way, anyway.”

Reni shivers, the huskiness in Dyla’s tone sending heat down her spine. She opens her mouth to answer, to bite back with some sort of retort. No words come out, only a soft whimper as Dyla’s hand slips under Reni’s shirt, caressing her bare skin.

“We’re supposed to be getting married,” Reni manages, leaning in for a kiss. 

Dyla responds immediately, pushing Reni against the wall and claiming her lips in a rough kiss. Reni moans softly into the kiss, wrapping her arms around Dyla to pull her closer. Her fingers dig into Dyla’s back, clutching her tightly as their bodies press together. Reni can feel the heat from Dyla’s skin through their clothing, her own body responding eagerly. 

Reni is lost in the kiss, in the feeling of Dyla against her, when suddenly Dyla pulls away.

“Come on,” Dyla says, pulling Reni along with renewed vigor. 

Reni lets herself get dragged down winding streets, through a few different districts of Herbin’s city that she doesn’t bother to keep track of. 

Dyla leads her down the cobblestone streets, their path taking them through various parts of Herbin’s city. Reni barely pays attention to their surroundings, too focused on the lingering touch of Dyla’s hand on her back, the heat building in her core. 

Dyla guides her through a narrow alleyway between two shops and out into a small courtyard. The space is quiet, the only sound coming from a nearby fountain. 

Dyla stops abruptly and Reni almost bumps into her, barely managing to catch herself. 

“Why did we…” Reni trails off, looking at the small potted cherry blossom tree next to a slightly dilapidated looking building. “Is this where we’re…” 

Dyla nods, turning around and wrapping her arms around Reni’s neck. “Yes,” Dyla whispers, gently kissing Reni’s forehead. “Our officiant—Junek—will be out soon.”

Reni takes a deep breath, trying to calm the nerves fluttering about her stomach. There’s something surreal about this moment. Getting married in a quiet courtyard, the only witness being some officiant Reni’s never even met, surrounded by a quiet bubble that blocks out the city. It feels almost secretive, like a precious moment they’re stealing from the world. 

As if reading her mind, Dyla grins playfully, lightly poking Reni’s nose. “Feeling nervous?”

Reni scoffs, rolling her eyes at Dyla. She can feel the heat creeping up on her cheeks, giving away how nervous she really is. 

Dyla chuckles softly, gently running her fingers through Reni’s wild red curls. Reni melts into the touch, letting her eyes close as Dyla tenderly combs through her hair. 

“You’re adorable when you’re nervous, you know that?” 

Reni opens her eyes and narrows them at Dyla. “I am not adorable. I am intimidating and fierce.”

The door to that slightly dilapidated looking building opens. A girl, not quite as bulky as Reni but certainly bigger than most people, walks out, scratching her neck. 

Reni openly stares as she walks up to Reni and Dyla, wearing the same leathers that Dyla wears. Dyla leans into Reni’s ear. “She’s hot, right?” Dyla murmurs, her voice breathy almost as she too is in awe. 

Reni only nods, interrupted by Junek stopping a few feet away from them. “You’re not dressed in the clothes you got, Dusk ?”

Reni frowns, glancing at Dyla. “Codename?” Reni whispers. 

Dyla nods. “Who cares about what we wear? It’s just us and you,” Dyla answers Junek. 

Junek glares at Dyla. “Dyla, we spent five hours combing through shops. You made me come with. I was bored out my mind.”

Dyla pouts, rolling her eyes playfully. “Come on, Junek. It was not that bad.”

Junek scoffs, crossing her arms over her chest. “It was awful. You took me into every single shop in Herbin, then some of the adjacent towns.”

Dyla grins, clearly amused by Junek’s complaint. “And yet you came shopping with me anyway.”

Reni flinches when Junek turns to her, the friendly glare directed at Dyla shifting to a deadly one aimed right for Reni’s weak points. Junek crosses her arms over her chest—which she puffs up—and examines Reni. 

“So you’re the Hero of Herbin?” Junek asks, scoffing. “I thought you’d be bigger.”

Reni’s eye twitches. Who is this brat? Obviously a friend or close coworker of Dyla’s—probably another enforcer. Reni catches Junek’s split second glance to Dyla, jealousy and unease in settling in that glance. 

Junek is in love with Dyla. That much is obvious. But why would she agree to officiate Dyla’s wedding to another person? Maybe to vet Reni? Who knows? Who cares?

“I’m still bigger than you,” Reni says, her fingers intertwining possessively with Dyla’s. 

Junek lets out a sharp laugh, rolling her eyes at Reni. “Bigger doesn’t mean better, Hero .”

“In this case,” Reni retorts, a warning in her voice, “it obviously does.”

Junek narrows her eyes, sizing Reni up. Reni can see the jealousy in her gaze, the way her jaw clenches as she stares at Reni’s hand intertwined with Dyla’s. 

Dyla sighs, stepping in between them. “Knock it off, Reni. Junek is just trying to rile you up.”

“It’s working,” Reni mutters.

Dyla chuckles, gently squeezing Reni’s arm. “I can tell. Just ignore her. She’s always like this with anyone I give my attention to that isn’t her.”

Junek huffs in annoyance, her arms still crossed over her chest. She looks away from Reni, her gaze lingering on their intertwined hands for a moment before she snaps her attention back to Dyla.

“You,” Dyla says sharply, “get over yourself for once and do what I asked, yeah?”

Junek bristles but ultimately deflates. “Yeah, I got it, your majesty.” 

Dyla rolls her eyes, giving Junek an exasperated look. “Stop it with the whole ‘your majesty’ crap. You know I hate it.”

Junek smirks, her eyes flickering over to Reni for a moment before returning to Dyla. “How can I resist when it annoys you so much, princess?”

“Junek,” Dyla warns, almost like she’s scolding a puppy.

Junek grins, raising her hands in surrender. “Alright, alright. I’m done picking on you and the hero , I swear.”

Dyla motions for Junek to come over. “You remember what you’re supposed to say Junek?” Dyla teases. 

Junek chuckles, a hint of annoyance in her voice. “Yes, I remember, your highness. You’ve only asked me about a thousand times.”

Dyla grins, clearly amused by Junek's irritation. “Just making sure you’ve got it down. I don’t want any screw ups.”

Junek rolls her eyes but can’t hide the tiny smile that threatens to break across her face. She steps closer to them, her gaze flickering to Reni once more.

Junek pulls a lavish red ribbon from a pouch on her belt. “Forgive me, I’m not from Arivel or its surrounding areas so I’m not as familiar with this ceremony,” Junek begrudgingly mumbles to Reni.

Reni and Dyla hold their hands over one another with enough space for Junek to weave the ribbon around their hands. Junek starts with Dyla’s hand that’s closest to her, wrapping the ribbon around the palm and the back of the hand, repeating the process with Reni’s left hand, then Dyla’s other hand, ending with Reni’s right. 

Junek slowly pulls both ends of the ribbon, pulling Dyla’s and Reni’s hands together until they’re palm to palm with both sets of their hands touching each other between them. 

“May the gods above bless your joining to be a perpetual relief, so that the sun smiles upon you each morning to renew your love eternal,” Junek pauses, biting her lip and taking a gulp of air, as if to force herself to keep going. “May the dead below grant your joining to follow you into death, so you may walk together for all time.”

Dyla tugs Reni forward into a crushing hug, the ribbon floating to the ground as it unwinds from their hands. Dyla peppers kisses to Reni’s entire face, ending with a long kiss before pulling away and turning to Junek.

“Thank you,” Dyla says, kissing Junek’s forehead, “that was perfect.”

Junek’s face flushes completely. Reni doesn’t have time to react before Dyla is dragging her into the dilapidated building and up a small set of stairs. She fumbles with a set of keys, quickly unlocking a door into an apartment. 

“Is this where you live—” Reni is cut off by Dyla forcefully grabbing Reni’s shoulders and pushing her into the apartment, closing and locking the door behind them.

Dyla pins Reni against the door, her eyes dark with desire. Reni can feel Dyla’s body pressed up against hers, her body buzzing everywhere Dyla touches her.

Reni gasps, her hands coming to rest on Dyla’s hips. She wants to say something, but the words die in her throat as Dyla leans in close, her breath hot on Reni’s ear. 

“Mine,” Dyla whispers, her voice dark and possessive. “You’re mine now.”

Dyla bites down on Reni’s neck, kissing and licking the skin to ease the pain. “You’ll always belong to me,” Dyla growls against Reni’s skin. “Always.”

Dyla continues to kiss and bite at Reni’s neck. “No one else can have you. You belong to me. Completely and utterly mine to keep and claim as I please.”

Reni gasps, her mouth and mind unable to come up with anything to say in response. She tugs at Dyla’s leather armor. “‘Need this off,” Reni whispers. “Please. I want to feel you.”

The moment Dyla backs off of Reni, Reni works at the straps of Dyla’s armor, tearing it off of her in record time. Reni grabs her dagger from the sheath on her belt, cutting off Dyla’s shirt and chest binder.

“ Fuck ,” Dyla gasps, staring at Reni with widened eyes. “Reni, I really liked that shirt.”

“I’ll buy you a new one,” Reni mutters, tossing her dagger onto the nearby table before picking Dyla up and bringing her into the only other room in the apartment. 

Reni lays Dyla on the bed, taking off her own shirt and chest binder. She quickly climbs onto the bed, pinning Dyla against it.

Dyla groans, the feeling of Reni on top of her sending heat through her body. She writhes underneath Reni, trying to free herself from the position. 

Reni pins Dyla’s wrists to the bed, a smirk creeping onto her lips as Dyla struggles against her in vain. 

“See how it feels?” Reni asks, greedily sucking on and kissing Dyla’s neck, collarbone, and chest. “It’s annoying when someone forces you to give up control.”

Dyla whines, arching into Reni. “Reni! It’s not fair,” Dyla gasps, her hands clenching into fists in her sheets. “ I’m supposed to be in control, not you .”

“Not tonight. Tonight, I’m in charge, Dyla.”

Dyla groans, her body trembling as Reni continues to kiss and mark her skin. “Reni… You’re playing dirty.”

Reni grins, her hands trailing down Dyla’s sides and gripping her hips firmly. “That’s the point, blossom . You can’t just be in control all the time. I want a turn tonight.”

Dyla whimpers softly, her thighs squeezing together involuntarily. “R-Reni… Please… don’t tease so much.”

“I will tease you as much as I damn well please,” Reni growls, leaving a particularly large mark in the center of her chest, right in the middle of her breasts.

Dyla squirms, her head tilting back as a groan escapes her lips. Reni looks at her, taking in the sight. Dyla looks wrecked already. Her chest is covered in hickeys and bite marks, her hair is messy and sprawled across the sheets, her skin covered in a thin sheen of sweat. Reni can see how desperate Dyla is by the look in her eyes, the way her body trembles under Reni’s touch. Dyla is at her mercy.

“ Fuck ,” Reni groans, climbing off the bed to pull Dyla’s pants and the rest of her undergarments off, taking off her own for good measure.

Reni licks her lips, stalking back to the bed and slowly crawling between Dyla’s legs. Reni grips Dyla’s hips, keeping her still as Reni kisses her inner thighs, teasing Dyla even more than before. 

Dyla whines, the desperate noise catching in her throat. She tries to move her hips, desperate for friction, but Reni keeps her firmly in place. Reni smirks, loving the fact that Dyla is at her mercy.

Reni kisses and bites at the sensitive skin of Dyla’s thighs. The sounds Dyla is making cause a heat to coil in her lower stomach, Reni’s own body aching for the same attention Dyla is craving. 

Dyla looks down at Reni, her body practically trembling. Reni locks eyes with her. She grins as she leans in, kissing Dyla’s vulva, spreading Dyla’s lips with her tongue and greedily tasting her.

Dyla moans, squeezing her thighs around Reni’s head to keep her in place. That earns her Reni’s tongue delving into her vagina. Reni uses one hand to carefully stimulate her clit while the other remains braced on Dyla’s hip.

With sudden ferocity, Dyla grabs Reni by the hair, pulling her up to kiss Dyla. “I want your fingers in me right now, Reni,” Dyla demands against Reni’s lips, letting her own fingers dip down to tease Reni in return. 

Reni moans softly, her mind clouded with desire. She wants to tease Dyla, to bring her even closer to the edge, but right now, her own body is on fire.

Reni breaks the kiss, moving down to mouth at Dyla’s neck as she slips a finger into her. She sets up a slow, steady pace that she knows will drive Dyla crazy.
“Like this?”

“Asshole,” Dyla moans sharply, moving her own fingers at the pace she wants Reni to obey. “Faster. Please .”

Reni rolls her eyes, but she can’t deny the ache between her thighs. She wants Dyla just as badly, if not more. Reni obliges, adding another finger as her own hips shift when she picks up the pace. Reni moans against Dyla’s neck, her fingers curling to hit the spots she knows Dyla likes. 

“You’re so demanding,” Reni teases, her thumb rubbing firm circles around Dyla’s clit. “Can’t you ask nicely?”

“Not when you’re being such a dick,” Dyla whimpers.

“Oh so I’m a dick just because I’m in control?” Reni mocks, earning a sharp increase in pressure from Dyla. “Sorry, my love.”

Reni moans softly, the sharp change in pace sending heat through her body. She can feel her own orgasm building, her body growing more desperate for release. She can feel the tension building between them, that familiar pull toward release.

“Dyla, please,” Reni gasps, her own body trembling. “Cum for me. I want to feel you come undone.”

Dyla moans, her body shaking. She’s close, so close. She wants to take Reni with her. “I want you to cum with me,” she gasps, her hands desperately reaching to grab Reni.

Reni groans, nodding as she presses her face into Dyla’s neck. “ Fuck ,” she whispers against the marks she’s made on Dyla’s skin. “I’m close.”

Reni continues her ministrations, her body arching as the tension builds. She can feel Dyla getting closer, her body trembling and clenching around Reni’s fingers.

Dyla pulls her fingers away, grabbing Reni’s cheek instead, turning her face so Reni looks her in the eye. “Look at me,” Dyla demands, her voice low and commanding. 

As soon as Reni looks into Dyla’s eyes, so full of love and desperation, she cums, letting that sweet orgasmic oblivion wash over her in familiar waves. She keeps moving for Dyla, relishing in the soft gasps and whimpers Reni draws from her.

Dyla moans, her body shaking as the orgasm washes over her. She grabs Reni, pulling her close, their bodies flush together. Their chests press up against each other as Dyla pulls Reni into a deep kiss, desperate to taste her, to mark her, to claim her. 

When they finally break for air, Dyla whispers softly, “You’re mine.”

“And you’re mine,” Reni echoes, carefully lifting Dyla up—despite her shaking, exhausted body—and carrying her bridal style to the bathing room attached to Dyla’s bed chambers. 

Reni seats Dyla on the stool in the room, moving to the bath which is luckily big enough for two, and runs the water. 

Once filled and cooled enough, Reni moves to pick Dyla up, helping her into the bath and then sliding in behind her, pulling Dyla back to lay on her. Reni nuzzles her face into Dyla’s neck, sighing softly.

Dyla smiles, humming. “I love you, Reni.”

Reni laughs lightly, gently kissing Dyla’s neck. “I love you too, wife .”

Notes:

Author’s Note: So I guess I lied when I said the next few chapters would be shorter. Oops.
Sincerely,
Archz
(3833 Words)

Chapter 39: Thirty-Six

“What do you think?” Alina asks, spinning for Nalia, her midnight blue dress swirling around her, looking more magical than Nalia’s own magic. 

“Pretty,” Nalia says, absentmindedly fiddling with her robes as she observes Alina.

“Stop staring at my sister, Witch ,” Dreniana mumbles, earning a laugh from Kezu and a pointed glare from Alina. 

Nalia flushes, slowly turning to look at Dreniana and Kezu who lounge on her couch. “I love that you two are together but I’m not sure how much I love that sass Kezu is giving you, Dren,” Nalia says, shaking her head. “And I wasn’t staring. I was simply observing.”

“Oh sure,” Kezu joins, a smug smile poking the corners of her lips, “ observing .”

“You three, hush ,” Alina snaps, glaring between all of them.

“What did I—” Nalia is cut off by Alina dragging her up into the alcove where her bed is. 

Kezu and Dreniana leave Nalia’s office, talking amongst themselves. 

“I’m sick of waiting for Reni to snap out of it,” Alina says, pacing back and forth in front of Nalia’s bed. “We don’t have another plan and as much as I hate it, I need Reni back. I’m going insane without her.”

“I can tell,” Nalia grabs Alina’s wrists, stopping her from wearing a hole into the floorboards. “Do you know what you’re going to do? Who you’re going to get to go… along… with this?”

Alina frowns, cocking her head to the side. “You’re blushing. Nalia you’re blushing .”

“Shut up! You look very beautiful in that dress,” Nalia mumbles. 

“You think I do?” Alina asks, incredulous and obviously teasing as she steps just a bit closer to Nalia. 

Nalia freezes in place, wishing she’d just let Alina pace. Instead, that horrible, soul betraying warmth creeps through her body. “Of course I do,” curse Nalia’s voice for sounding so breathless. 

Alina smirks. “You look like you want to kiss me,” she whispers, leaning a little closer to Nalia. “Still think I’d regret this?”

“I’m still not Reni, Alina.”

“So what?” Alina pulls on hand from Nalia’s grip, fiddling with a stray strand of Nalia’s hair. 

“ So , you’re in love with Reni, not me. I don’t want to be some distraction.”

“You’re not a distraction,” the way Alina’s voice travels down Nalia’s spine should be illegal, it should be against the laws of nature and physics. “You’re my friend. My friend who happens to also be very beautiful.”

“Flirting with me isn’t going to do you any good, Alina.”

Alina rests her hand on Nalia’s collarbone, freeing her other hand from Nalia’s grip and resting it on Nalia’s hip. “Flirting with you is doing plenty of good. For both of us.”

Alina pauses for a moment, letting her breath wash across Nalia’s neck. “We both know you’ve been just as lonely as I have, Nalia.”

“This is a shitty idea,” Nalia grumbles, closing her eyes as Alina’s warm breath dances across her skin, lighting tiny fires across her body despite her mind’s reluctance. 

“So is manipulating Reni into talking to us,” Alina kisses Nalia’s neck, close to where her hand sits braced on Nalia’s collarbone. “You seem to be perfectly fine with doing that.”

“We don’t have a better choice right now,” Nalia justifies, keeping her hands balled into fists at her sides. 

“Tell me to stop,” Alina whispers, leaving a lingering kiss right under Nalia’s jaw.

“Alina…”

Stop. It’s right there, on the tip of her tongue but Nalia can’t get the word out. Her mouth won’t make the sounds. 

“What was that?” Alina asks, kissing along Nalia’s jaw, emboldened by Nalia’s hesitance to stop her.

“This is a one time thing,” Nalia exhales, slowly letting her hands drift up to rest on Alina shoulders. “And we have to tell Reni.”

“Deal,” Alina gently coaxes Nalia to sit on the edge of her bed, easily straddling her lap.

Alina licks her lips, wrapping her arms around Nalia’s neck and leaning in. “Last chance to tell me to stop.”

When Nalia doesn’t say anything, Alina steals a kiss from her lips. 

Nalia has been with a total of three people before now. The first was her first and only girlfriend, the second was a man who’d raped her and Reni later killed for that very reason, and the third was Reni herself. 

Her first girlfriend was sweet, gentle, and a little nervous. Reni has always been equal parts commanding and understanding. She always goes along with whatever her partner wants. 

Alina is powerful . In day to day life, she commands a certain amount of respect by just existing. She’s not just a princess. She’s a scholar. She spends hours of her day researching in the library and—now—helping Nalia with her various projects. Alina’s smart and she knows it. 

Her kiss radiates that very same power. 

“Still okay?” Alina asks when she pulls back to take a few deep breaths, leaving the taste of her confidence on Nalia’s lips and tongue.

Alina’s confidence is infectious, leaving Nalia’s gut bubbling over. She smiles, letting her hands rest on Alina’s ass as she pulls Alina in for another kiss. 

Alina shifts up slightly, towering over Nalia as Alina straddles her. She continues to move slightly up and down as they kiss, moaning softly every time she brushes herself against Nalia. 

Nalia holds Alina tighter, guiding her movements to be even slower so she barely grinds herself on Nalia. 

Alina whimpers at the change in pace, breaking the kiss and burying her face in the crook of Nalia’s neck. “Nalia,” she mumbles as she tries to grind a bit faster. “Please.”

“Be patient,” Nalia chides, slowing Alina to a complete stop. “We have time.”

Alina lets out a low whine, sitting still across Nalia’s lap. “Time that I don’t want to waste,” she grumbles, kissing and lightly biting down on Nalia’s neck.

“Alina,” Nalia says, slowly guiding Alina’s grinding, “if you’re good, I will give you what you want but I’m in control.”

It’s a struggle for Alina to hold back a whine. She leans back a bit, allowing Nalia to control her movements. “And if I’m not good?” She challenges, raising an eyebrow.

“You don’t get what you want.”

A shiver runs up Alina’s spine and she lets out a quiet whimper. “I’ll be good,” Alina murmurs, trying to keep her voice from shaking too much when Nalia allows Alina to grind a little faster. 

Alina closes her eyes, letting out a quiet moan that turns into a frustrated huff when Nalia once again slows her.

Nalia grins, moving her hands to rest on Alina’s thighs and lightly squeezing them. “You look so pretty like this. All impatient and needy for me. You want me to let you move faster, don’t you?”

Alina nods, looking down at Nalia with desperate eyes. “Please, please let me move. I promise I’ll be good,” she whispers, a needy whine slipping out at the end.

“How can I say no when you beg like that ?” Nalia asks, loosening her grip so Alina can move however fast she wishes. 

Alina doesn’t hesitate, rolling her hips quickly and letting the motion pull soft moans from her lips. She lets her head fall forward again, resting her forehead against Nalia’s shoulder as her hands squeeze at Nalia’s robes. 

Alina’s movements get more desperate, her breathing uneven. Nalia moves one hand from Alina’s thigh to the back of her head, tangling her fingers in Alina’s hair and gently guiding her face up. 

“How close are you, Alina?”

“Fucking close ,” Alina pants, letting Nalia support her head as she focuses her energy on the frantic rolling of her hips.

A smug smile crosses Nalia’s face, but then a soft groan escapes her as Alina moves even faster. Nalia bites her lip, trying her best not to lose her composure as Alina continues to move so impatiently.

After a moment, Nalia gently tugs on Alina’s hair, forcing her to stop moving. An annoyed whimper leaves Alina and her eyes dart up to Nalia, a look of confusion and desperation etched on her face.

“Why did you… make me stop?”

“You don’t want to cum all over this beautiful dress now, do you?” Nalia asks, already pulling the dress up slightly.

Alina bites her lip, trying to keep her breathing even. She shakes her head in response to Nalia’s question, and her hands grip the fabric of Nalia’s robes tighter. 

Alina swallows thickly, looking down at Nalia. “No… I don’t want to ruin the dress,” she says as her head swims with impatient, desperate thoughts.

“Stand,” Nalia demands.

Alina quickly obeys, climbing off of Nalia and standing beside the bed. She watches Nalia intently, her hands anxiously gripping the fabric of her dress.

Nalia helps Alina pull the dress off, carefully hanging it over the railing of the stairs back down into the rest of Nalia’s workshop and office. Nalia grins when she turns back to Alina. “On the bed. On your back.”

Alina shivers at the firmness in Nalia’s voice and immediately clambers onto the bed, laying on her back in the middle of it. She looks up at Nalia with wide eyes, anticipation and impatience radiating from her.

Nalia grins, cracking her neck and pulling off her robes, tossing them haphazardly on the floor. She climbs over Alina, letting one of her knees rest on the bed right between Alina’s legs while the other is on the opposite side of the leg Nalia carefully sits herself on.

Nalia licks her lips and pulls off Alina’s undergarments, her own swiftly following. Slowly, carefully, Nalia grinds her knee and thigh against Alina’s vulva, grinding herself onto Alina’s thigh. 

“You’re so wet, Alina,” Nalia murmurs, cocking her head to the side. “How much of this is for me and how much of this is for Reni?”

Alina shudders at the feeling against her and the words. She shifts her legs up a bit more, biting her lip and trying to hide a slight moan.

Alina’s face flushes at hearing the question, heat rushing from her head to her stomach. She knows she can’t lie, but the answer makes her whine. 

Alina’s gaze darts down, avoiding Nalia’s eyes for a moment before she answers. “…Ah…a lot of it is for Reni,” she answers reluctantly.

“‘Figured,” Nalia murmurs, leaning down and carefully kissing Alina’s neck. “Are you pretending I’m her? Imagining it’s her on top of you? Kissing you?”

Alina lets out a quiet, shaky moan when Nalia kisses her neck. She nods rapidly at the question. “Yes. Yes, yes, I am. I can almost pretend it’s her… oh gods I miss her, I miss her so much,” her words tumble out in a breathy whisper.

“Tell me about it. Tell me what you think she’d do, what you want her to do.”

A quiet whimper escapes Alina as her eyes flutter closed. She thinks for a moment, trying to remember the details and feelings of her few moments with Reni.

Slowly, Alina’s eyes open and she begins to softly speak. “She’d be so gentle. She’s always so careful to not hurt me, or scare me. She’d kiss me… kiss all over… everywhere, and she wouldn’t tease me like you— hmm —like you are now. She wouldn’t make me beg, she wouldn’t make me so desperate— ah —so impatient.”

Nalia laughs a little, sucking a mark onto Alina’s collarbone where it can easily be covered. “Trust me,” Nalia murmurs against Alina’s skin, “Reni loves to tease more than I do.”

Alina lets out a soft moan at the feeling of Nalia’s lips and teeth on her skin. Her hands grip the sheets underneath her, and her legs press up against Nalia’s thigh. 

Alina bites her lip, a quiet huff escaping as her hips involuntarily roll up into Nalia. She tries to form a response to what Nalia said, but all that slips out is shaky whimpers and quiet moans.

After a few moments, Alina manages to respond, her voice coming out as a desperate whine. “She does no…not… I doubt it.”

“You doubt the person who’s actually been fucked by Reni?” Nalia asks quietly.

Alina lets out a choked whimper, her entire body shuddering at the words. She opens her eyes and looks up at Nalia, and she has to take a shaky breath before she can respond.

Eventually, a soft whine comes from Alina’s lips, and she shakes her head. Another small huff escapes as the words and Nalia’s tone cause heat to flood through Alina’s stomach. Her eyes flutter closed and she leans her head back against the pillow, desperately panting for breath as a few shaky words escape her.

“How… How is she… then? Tell me… please?”

Nalia nods against Alina’s chest, grinding herself and her thigh against Alina, picking up her pace a little. “She’s demanding. She loves control. She loves to make people squirm. She loves people begging for her and she hates being made to beg herself. She hates giving up her control to anyone. I bet she’d even hate giving her control up to you.”

Alina moans loudly at the increased pace and the words murmured against her skin. Alina lets her hands leave the sheets in favor of digging her nails into Nalia’s back. 

Alina pants heavily, her head spinning as the words register in her mind. The idea of Reni under her, vulnerable, desperate for her, makes heat rush through her entire body.

Even still, a little bit of the stubborn, defiant princess in her wants to disagree. Alina shakes her head, squeezing out a reply. “She… she wouldn’t hate giving it to me… not me.”

“Maybe you’re right about that,” Nalia admits. “I wouldn’t know because I’m not you or her. But I know she loves to be in control.”

A shaky whine escapes Alina in response, and her hands grip tightly at Nalia’s back. She hates how right Nalia is. It’s not hard to imagine Reni being the one in control, the one pinning Alina to the bed and leaving her begging and whining for more. 

Alina can’t argue, instead letting out a frustrated moan as her mind floods with images of Reni.

Nalia closes her eyes, moving faster as that familiar heat starts to coil tighter in her gut. “She might give you control—willingly—without you forcefully taking it. Because it’s you . But I know she doesn’t with anyone else.”

That thought makes heat spread through Alina’s gut and her head to swim. The thought of being the only one, the only person Reni would willingly let take control makes her shiver with want. 

Alina’s hands leave Nalia’s back to grip the sheets tightly again, her knuckles turning white. She whimpers, her mind unable to form a coherent reply.

“Close?” Nalia asks, her voice breathy and filled with a quiet desperation of her own.

Alina nods desperately. “Y—yes. Please Nalia. Please .”

“ Fuck ,” Nalia whispers, moaning softly as that coil in her stomach snaps, sending her into pleasant orgasmic bliss, still moving her thigh for Alina.

The feeling of Nalia against her and the sounds she makes is enough to push Alina over the edge, her body trembling as her hands grip the sheets hard enough for them to tear at the edges. She buries her face in Nalia’s shoulder as she rides out her orgasm, her breaths coming out in gasps and moans.

Nalia eases Alina down, relaxing her body next to Alina’s, their legs still intertwined. Nalia traces patterns over Alina’s chest and stomach, watching Alina carefully. 

“The plan… Do you know who you’re going to get to help you?” Nalia asks after a long moment of silence. 

Alina nods. “I’ll talk to him. Don’t worry.”

 

– – – – –

 

“Marqi!” Alina hisses, grabbing the prince’s wrist.

Marqi’s eyes widen, trying to snatch his wrist back. “No!” He hisses back. “The last time I touched you, your little guard dog threatened me. I don’t feel like doing that again!”

“I need your help, Marqi.”

Marqi pauses for a moment, tapping his foot anxiously. “No. No thanks. Not interested. I’d like to keep my life, thank you very much.”

Alina scowls. “Reni is ignoring me. I need to get her attention.”

Marqi raises a brow, a dangerous smirk dawning his thin lips. “So you’re jealous? Does seeing the Captain with another person make you mad, your majesty?”

“What do you mean?”

Marqi snorts. “Don’t tell me you haven’t seen her with that golden masked girl.”

Alina grabs Marqi by the collar of his shirt. “What do you mean?”

Marqi gestures across the crowded ballroom, toward the small clearing where Reni dances with a girl in a golden mask and a gold and red dress, similar to Reni’s formal uniform. 

Alina glares at Marqi again. “You’re helping me or I’ll tell your parents about your little gambling ring.”

Marqi grimaces, nodding. “ Fuck . Fine, Alina. But you better keep her from cutting off my dick or whatever else her twisted head would come up with doing to me.”

“Deal,” Alina says, releasing his wrist. “I need you to pretend to get me really drunk and I need you to pretend that you’re planning on taking advantage of that by taking me to my room.”

“And how is this going to work? Reni is obviously enjoying the mystery girl’s presence.”

“I know Reni. Even if she’s not talking to me right now, she’s still watching. She’s still her same overprotective self.”

“So, I just—what—dance with you clearing in her view and give you ‘drinks’ periodically?”

“Exactly,” Alina smiles at him, taking a chalice filled with juice, offering one to him. “Thank you, Marqi.”

“Thank me when I successfully get away with my dick intact,” Marqi grumbles, sighing as he sips his juice, disappointed by the obvious lack of alcohol.

Alina rests one hand on Marqi’s chest while he gently leads her closer to the center of the ballroom, right where Reni will be able to see. “Hand on my hip, Marqi,” Alina whispers in his ear, on the side where Reni can see. “Be possessive.”

Marqi sighs, downing his chalice, setting it down on a passing tray, and bracing both his hands on Alina’s hips, his fingers barely brushing her ass. “Happy?”

“Not until I get my best friend back,” Alina says, watching Reni out of the corner of her eye.

That stupid golden masked girl is apparently so interesting that Reni hasn’t even noticed what’s happening yet. She’s so focused on her little masqueraded lover, she doesn’t care about Alina. 

Fuck that.

“Alina,” Marqi says, pulling Alina out of her spiral, “breathe. Finish your drink and I’ll call over a server for another one after this song ends. You can’t forget your plan.”

Someone bumps into Alina from behind. She sucks in a breath, the last ball coming back to her in one dizzying wave. Tears well in her eyes. She pulls away from Marqi and slips through the crowd, looking for Nalia. 

Marqi follows her. “Alina. Alina, wait! Alina!”

Alina slips into the hall, burying herself in Nalia’s arms. Nalia yelps, wrapping her arms around Alina to form a barrier. 

Marqi speed walks up to them, grabbing Alina by the arm and pulling her toward the stairs. “Reni is following,” he murmurs when Alina starts to protest. “Just keep walking. Pretend I’m Nalia, since you’re friends now?”

Alina nods, letting Marqi wrap his arm around her shoulders, holding her as she sobs, trying to keep the image of her parent’s lifeless bodies from invading her thoughts. 

Alina needs to focus. She’s in the middle of getting her best friend back. She needs to clear the grief before they get to her room. 

Marqi holds Alina in the middle of her bed chambers, rubbing her back as they wait. Any moment Reni will walk in and then Alina will get her back.

Notes:

Author’s Note: You’re going to hate me for the next chapter. I apologize in advance.
Sincerely,
Archz
(3302 Words)

Chapter 40: Thirty-Seven

Reni’s eyes stay on Dyla’s mask for about five seconds before she notices Alina with that stupid prince who wouldn’t keep his hands to himself all those months ago. 

“Eyes on me, love,” Dyla murmurs, urging Reni to look back at her with a few well-placed nudges to her shoulder. “She doesn’t matter. She’s just trying to get your attention. It’s a desperate move to pull you away from me. You don’t want to be away from your wife, now, do you?”

Reni shakes her head, trying to focus her mind back on Dyla. Her wife. The woman she’ll be raising a child with. The woman she’s loved all her life. “Of course not, Day.”

Reni relaxes into the sways of their simple dance, allowing herself to melt along with Dyla’s natural grace. 

A blur of motion catches Reni’s attention. Alina is swiftly walking out of the ballroom with that damn prince in tow. She grits her teeth, looking back down at Dyla. “Day, I love you but it’s also my job to protect the Von Dawns and Alina is—”

Dyla sighs, letting go of Reni. “Come back soon, love.”

Reni doesn’t say anything, setting her jaw as she shoves through the crowd. They’re already at the stairs when Reni makes it out the door. 

Not fast enough. Reni walks faster, determined to catch them before that prince can try anything. 

Reni slams through the door into Alina’s bed chambers and they’re—just hugging? The door slams closed behind Reni. She glances back to find Nalia, motioning for the prince to leave. 

The prince slinks past Reni and out of the door. Nalia coats the lock in crystal, trapping Reni in. “We’re talking, Reni,” Nalia says carefully, “whether you want to or not.”

Alina sniffles, wiping her eyes. “Reni…” 

Reni almost breaks, her hand twitching as her instincts shout at her to comfort Alina. “Whatever you two think you’re doing,” Reni says, crossing her arms, “it’s not going to do whatever you think it will.”

“Reni, I need you back,” Alina sobs, gesturing wildly. “I’m going insane without you! You’re driving me insane!”

“You have Nalia,” Reni states, looking between the two of them. 

Nalia flushes, avoiding that look. Anger settles in Reni’s gut. Nalia caught feelings for Alina. Reni can tell. Nalia always gets that look when she’s mentioned in any capacity with someone she has feelings for. 

It doesn’t matter. Reni has a wife. Nalia and Alina can get together for all Reni cares. 

“Nalia isn’t you, Reni!” Alina snaps, stopping up to Reni and punching her in the chest. 

“So make do with—”

“Don’t you dare! Reni, I’m begging you! Please, come back to me. Please,” Alina’s voice cracks. 

Reni stands still as Alina presses her face into Reni’s shoulder. “Alina I can’t .”

“What do you mean you can’t? ”

“Alina, I need space, right now,” Reni tries to push Alina off, though her heart tears at the thought of not being able to touch her anymore. 

“And I need you to hold me,” Alina mumbles, pressing herself further against Reni. “Please.”

“Alina—”

“I love you, okay? I love you Reni!” Alina takes a shaky breath. “I love you more than I love the air I breathe and I need my best friend to hold me. I need you back. I don’t even care if you don’t say it back. Just hold me.”

A flash of gold darts outside the room on Alina’s balcony. Reni grimaces, feeling the sharp prod of Dyla’s shadow hands trying to push and pull Reni away from Alina. 

Nalia storms over to the balcony door and Reni knows she’s screwed. There’s nothing she can do to avoid this. Nothing .

Dyla slams the doors open with her foot, holding one of her scimitars to Nalia’s neck. “Reni, back away from her,” Dyla orders, coaxing Reni’s reluctant body into action. 

Reni steps toward Dyla like a dog called to its master. She can’t help but feel ashamed when both Nalia and Alina stare at her. 

“I know that blade,” Alina mumbles, her voice shaking with barely contained pain and anger. “You killed my parents!”

Alina nearly charges at Dyla, only for Nalia to stop her. “You’d be dead in a second, Ali,” Nalia whispers to her. “Don’t.”

Alina turns her deadly gaze onto Reni. “What is wrong with you? How… How could you? You danced with my parent’s killer! What else have you done with her? Answer me!”

Reni opens her mouth, no sound coming out. Dyla laughs, shaking her head. “You’re funny, Alina,” Dyla says, sheathing her scimitar. “Reni and I have done much more than just dance. Tell her, love.”

Reni looks away, shame building up her throat, clogging her vocal cords, and drowning her in the consequences of her sorely misguided actions. 

Dyla shakes her head. “Cat got your tongue my love? Shall I tell them what we’ve done? Who I am to you? Who I am?”

“No…” Reni says, her voice weaker than she thought she’d ever sound. 

“Ashamed, love?”

“I… no… yes… I don’t… I don’t know!”

Nalia frowns, scanning Reni, over and over. Something with her isn’t right. She isn’t quite herself. More than she and Alina thought. 

“Tell me,” Alina snaps, glaring between Reni and Dyla.

Dyla pulls off her mask, grinning. “Hey, Ali,” she says in a sickeningly sweet voice, mocking what she sounded like as a child. 

Alina flinches, recoiling several steps. Surprise, anger, hatred, understanding, and jealousy war in her heart and mind as she stares at her long thought to be dead friend. Reni’s fiance. Her betrothed.

“You’re dead!” Alina snaps, charging at Dyla only to be caught by Nalia again. “What did you do to her you sick fuck?”

Dyla grins, taking measured steps closer to Alina until she caresses Alina’s cheek. “Nothing she didn’t want.” Dyla glances back at Reni, “Right, love?”

“R—rig—right,” Reni stutters, eyes wide as she stares at Alina. 

“Reni, is she controlling you?” Nalia interjects. 

“This is my choice,” Reni snaps back, glaring at Nalia with the faintest furrow in her brow. 

Dyla stares Alina dead in the eyes. “Our darling Reni knew who I’d become and she still married me, Alina,” she says, making Alina flinch. 

Reni looks away from Nalia and Alina. She doesn’t want to see the anger or the hurt or whatever else they’re both feeling. 

“Reni,” Nalia says, walking past Dyla and Alina, trying to catch Reni’s eye. “Reni, look at me. Tell me what she did to you.”

“This is my choice… I’m…”

“Reni,” Dyla finishes for Reni, “is in love with me. She doesn’t regret anything she’s done. She’s married to the love of her life.”

“That’s the second time you’ve said that,” Alina mumbles, tears wetting her cheeks. “You got married to this mockery of Dyla? Really Reni?”

Dyla scoffs, gripping Alina’s chin to make her look Dyla in the eyes. “I assure you, Alina, I am who I say I am. I didn’t die in that fire. I’ve been alive and now, I’ve taken what’s mine . Before you could steal her away from me.”

Expecting the adamant refusal that Reni belongs to anyone, Alina looks at Reni out of the corner of her eye. Disappointment settles in the air around her at Reni’s lack of response. 

After Plantatos, Reni has adamantly denied belonging to anyone. Now, she’s just letting this twisted version of Dyla say things she’d never let anyone else say.

“No,” Alina whispers. “If Reni is anyone’s, she’s mine . My best friend. My protector. My person.”

Dyla snorts, shoving Alina. Alina stumbles, catching herself on her bed frame. “You’re sorely mistaken, Alina,” Dyla says, raising a brow at Alina’s adamant refusal to believe what Dyla’s is telling her. “We both know Reni was mine before I ‘died’ and you always hated that, didn’t you? You were jealous. You wanted her for yourself. You thought you were the better choice because you’re a princess while I was just the daughter of a marquess. It angers you, doesn’t it? That she still chooses me over you?”

“She never had a choice in the first place! You were betrothed! Your parents made that choice for the both of you!” Alina snaps, holding herself firmly.

“Reni,” Nalia says softly, trying to pull Reni farther away from Dyla. “What did she do to you?”

“Why do you keep asking that?” Reni asks, staring at Dyla—her wife—and Alina—her best friend—argue in front of her.

“You’re living in some idealistic version of our world,” Dyla snaps back at Alina, her hand itching for her blade. “Of course you wouldn’t understand anything about Reni and I.”

“Reni, focus on me,” Nalia says, pulling Reni’s back to her again. “Snap out of it.”

“I understand perfectly, Dyla! You’ve done something to her! Fucked with her head with your shitty fucking shadow magic! I should have known that your kindness when we were younger was a show! I never should have trusted you with—”

“Reni was mine first,” Dyla says, resting her hand on the hilt of one of her scimitars. 

“She doesn’t belong to you!”

Reni moves across the room in a heartbeat, standing between Dyla and Alina, staring at Dyla. Dyla’s eyes widen. She stares at her hand, on the hilt of her blade, now embedded in Reni’s stomach. 

“Reni!” Dyla yells, her hands rushing to keep Reni standing. “Reni, why did you do that? You idiot!”

Nalia’s crystals grow over Dyla, trapping her legs and most of her torso in a coffin that dances in the moonlight. 

Alina catches Reni when she starts to fall, carefully lowering her onto her back. “Reni? Reni, talk to me,” Alina begs, trying to catch her eyes.

Reni doesn’t say anything, her eyes wide as she looks up at the ceiling, almost like she’s not really seeing anything. 

“Reni! Reni!” Alina grips the collar of Reni’s formal uniform, resting her head on Reni’s chest. “Reni just say something !”

“I’m sorry,” Reni mumbles, her speech slurred. 

“No, don’t say that ,” Alina shakes her head. 

“I shouldn’t have… I should have just…” Reni frowns, trying to find the words to say, even as her body starts to feel light. 

“Stop. Just stop! You aren’t doing this to me. You don’t get to just run away after what you’ve done.”

Nalia stumbles back in. When did she leave? “Marska is on her way,” she says, sliding down on the opposite side of Reni from Alina. “Pull that out, I’m going to plug the wound with crystal to buy her more time.”

Alina shakes her head. “No, that could kill her. I need her, Nalia.”

Nalia grabs Alina’s shaking hands. “She could die if I don’t do anything. Marska can handle this but we need to stop the bleeding and this blade isn’t doing that.”

Alina pauses, looking at Reni’s glassy eyes. “Fine,” she snaps, pulling the blade from Reni’s gut. 

Nalia’s crystalline magic fills the wound, plugging it. The scimitar clatters near Dyla’s feet. Alina stands, shakily grabbing Dyla by her neck. 

“I should kill you for this,” Alina says, squeezing Dyla’s neck enough to cut off most of her air. 

Dyla can’t fight back because of her makeshift prison. Not that she would. She’s frozen, staring at Reni’s struggling body, Reni’s blood on her hands. 

“You’re dead, Dyla! So fucking dead!” Alina shouts. 

“Alina, Reni isn’t breathing!” Nalia says, frantically trying to wake Reni back up. 

Alina slides back down next to Reni, holding Reni’s head. “Reni… with… don’t… eyes…”

Reni’s hearing, her vision, her everything fades. The last thing she sees is Alina’s crying face, hovering over her, begging her not to die.

Notes:

Author’s Note: See you soon.
Sincerely,
Archz
(1943 Words)

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of The Vastocina Chronicles