I scratched my skin, my body aching as I fought the urge to scream. My fingers dragged against my arms, desperate to peel away the invisible weight of their words. It felt like their accusations were burrowing under my skin, suffocating me.
I didn’t even notice the sound of approaching footsteps until a shadow fell over me.
“Liana.”
His voice was firm, yet it carried a softness I wasn’t used to.
1 froze, turning to find Alaric standing a few feet away, his brows furrowed as his piercing blue eyes studied me. He wasn’t wearing his usual cold mask; instead, there was something else in his gaze. Concern, maybe?
“What are you doing?” he asked, stepping closer.
I quickly dropped my hands, hiding the angry red marks on my arms. “Nothing,” I said, my voice barely a whisper.
“You’re scratching yourself raw,” he said, his tone sharpening
I looked away, unable to meet his gaze. “It doesn’t matter.”
Alaric crouched slightly, bringing himself to my level. “It does if you’re hurting yourself,” he said firmly.
I let out a shaky breath, my chest tightening. “I just… I’ve had enough.”
“Enough of what?”
I hesitated, my hands balling into fists at my sides. “Of this,” I said, my voice cracking. “The rumors, the stares, the whispers every time I walk into a room. They think I’m some kind of monster.”
“They’re just rumors,” he said, his tone steady.
“They’re not just rumors,” I snapped, glaring at him through the tears threatening to spill. “They think I killed Olivia. That I stood there and watched her die. Do you know what that feels like?”
3/6
+15 Bonus
Alaric didn’t reply right away. Instead, he stepped closer and, to my surprise, placed a hand on my shoulder.
“People talk,” he said quietly. “That’s all they know how to do. You can’t let their words control you.”
My shoulders trembled, and before I could stop myself, the tears came.
“I didn’t want this,” I whispered, the words tumbling out in a flood of emotion. “I didn’t ask for any of it. I just wanted to survive. But no matter what I do, it’s never enough.”
I expected him to pull away, to let me cry alone. Instead, he did something I never would have imagined.
He pulled me into his arms.
The embrace was firm, grounding, his hand resting lightly on the back of my head as he let me sob into his chest. For a moment, the world outside of this moment–outside of him–faded away.
“You’re stronger than this,” he said, his voice low and calming. “Stronger than them.”
“I don’t feel strong,” I admitted, my voice muffled against his chest.
He pulled back slightly, just enough to tilt my chin up so I could meet his gaze. “That’s because you’re too busy listening to their nonsense. Let them talk. Their words mean nothing.”
I swallowed, his words sinking in slowly. “It’s not easy.”
“It never is,” he said, his lips twitching into something that wasn’t quite a smile but wasn’t cold either. “But I’ll make it up to you.”
I blinked, confused. “What?”
“Come with me,” he said, standing and offering me his hand.
I stared at it, hesitant, but the sincerity in his expression made me reach out and take it.
The stables smelled of fresh hay and earth, the soft nickering of horses filling the air. It was surprisingly quiet, tucked away from the chaos of the palace.
Alaric led me inside, his movements purposeful but unhurried. “I come here when I need to clear my head,” he said, glancing back at me. “Thought you might need the same.”
I looked around, taking in the rows of stalls and the curious eyes of the horses peering out. “You… ride?” I asked, surprised.
He shrugged. “Sometimes. When I’m not too busy running an empire.”
His tone was light, almost teasing, and it caught me off guard.
He stopped in front of a stall, resting a hand on the door. “This one’s my favorite,” he said, opening it.
A
+15 Bonus
Inside stood a sleek black stallion, its coat shimmering in the light. The horse snorted softly, stepping forward to nuzzle Alaric’s
hand.
“This is Nyx,” he said, his voice softer than I’d ever heard it.
I reached out tentatively, and the horse’s large, dark eyes met mine. “He’s beautiful,” I said, my voice full of awe.
“He knows it,” Alaric said, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
For a moment, the tension that had been weighing on me all day began to lift. There was something calming about the stables,
about the quiet strength of the horses and the steadiness of Alaric’s presence.
“Why did you bring me here?” I asked, breaking the silence.
He looked at me, his expression unreadable. “Because you needed to see that there’s more to this place than what they say about.
you. More to you than what you think.”
His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning.
I looked away, my hand brushing over Nyx’s mane. “You don’t even know me,
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“I said softly.
“Not yet,” he replied, his voice steady. “But I know you’re not the monster they make you out to be.”
I turned to face him, my chest tightening. “How do you know that?”
He stepped closer, his gaze locking onto mine. “Because I’ve seen monsters. Real ones. And you’re not one of them.”
swas
For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. The intensity in his eyes was overwhelming, but it wasn’t frightening. It was grounding.
I nodded, unable to find the words to respond.
“Come on,” he said after a moment, his tone lighter. “Let’s see if you’re any good on a horse.”
