From chains to crown

ly'

to da

es, whispering things you can't quite hear

cold against my skin - bolted me to the wal

t in a

t the reco

remembered was th

and when you wake, th

, it

the worl

t slipped through a grated door across the room. Stone walls bled

ello?" I whispered.

espo

heard fo

against stone. Th

lack leathers with a crimson sash and a silver embl

ctor, or someone I'd rec

awake,"

t tight. "Where

hed just outside my reach and studied me like

Opsia," he finally said,

the name in whisp

. "I shouldn't be here. Please

ad. "Everyone sa

d I do?

d final. "You'll find out what y

pr

e, he stood and walked out, sla

swallowed

weight. Every creak in the stone, every

as I

lickered - the way he'd avoided me for days, the sudden des

oor groaned again. Another figur

an. I

d against a powerful frame. She carried a bundle of leather clothes in one hand and

d, lookin

of her chest, I wouldn't

calmly. "We don

you?" I w

tina. Prince Damien's First Guard. I'm n

name alone made

one by one, and stepped bac

was

said, handing

ove, didn't

ou... could you pleas

tone was f

outfit was worse than I imagined-a skirt so short it might as well not exis

pered. "Please. I... I dres

. "That little speech w

eath

" she added. "You'll answ

forcing myself

ight, too exposed. I f

e like I was a disp

epped

s seen you already, you'

. "Wh..

ld laugh. "Relax. Yo

er voice made

attaching the chains until

d, my voice breaking. "Why am

sed at

d back wit

. Better start asking

ath hi

uld speak again

de flickered on

lone in the

aiting for a prin

hest whispered this w