Page 12 of The Hive

The whir of the water pumps told me that Ghost was in the shower. Even if he was quick about it, I would be stuck with Shadow in this awkward silence until he was through. Something he had mentioned the night before bothered me, and I considered the wisdom of bringing it up. My curiosity won out over my self-preservation instinct and I licked my lower lip nervously.

“Last night…” I paused and took a deep breath, not sure if I wanted to know the answer to this question. “Last night, you said, ‘She’s not for you.’ What did that mean? Who exactly do you think I am for? Are you planning on turning me over to the drones after all?” I couldn’t keep the bitterness from my voice.

His dark eyes narrowed, and he shifted his gaze to the bathroom door as if calculating the odds of being interrupted. When he turned back to look at me, the gravity of his stare settled on my chest like a massive weight.

“You, Saphyra, are the uncrowned Queen of Verden and betrothed to Alexi, son of Titus, the Regent. You are not for us, you are for him.” Shadow’s tone was low and serious, but I wanted to laugh.

“You’re joking, right?” I seemed to be having that reaction a lot lately.

“Do you remember nothing of your life before this place? Nothing of where you came from?”

Flashes of sun-gilded oaks and stone buildings mellowed with age tickled the back of my mind. A glimpse of a blond boy running through vast courtyards and gardens nudged my memory. His eyes were the color of the forest and his smile was as bright as the sun. I swallowed sharply at the pain these thoughts always caused. I clung to them, but they were like daggers to my already bruised heart.

“I have vague impressions of something, but I was young, and it was a very long time ago. Fantasies and imagination were strongly discouraged and regularly punished. I don’t know what’s real or imagined anymore,” I said, keeping my voice low so as not to be heard by the cameras.

He shook his head as if disappointed in me. He wouldn’t be the first to feel that way. “I remember you, though,” he murmured almost wistfully, if an angry shadow could be wistful. “You were a tiny ray of sunlight that brought hope to all of Verden. But I was no one to you. I was beneath your notice, just some gutter rat that would never be worthy to breathe your air. And then the Imperatrix came with her soldiers. They killed my father, raped my mother, and tried to steal my little sister. My mother screamed at me to stay hidden as I watched her kill my sister and then herself from a rooftop across the street. She decided death was preferable to slavery.”

A pit opened up in my stomach, and I felt the blood drain from my face. “I’m so sorry.” I was at a loss for words. Nothing I could say would ever be enough.

He continued as if he hadn’t heard me. “Then I saw you, in your perfect dress and golden hair, kicking, screaming, and biting anyone who got close enough while enemy soldiers carried you to the transport ships. There was nothing anyone could do to save you, even though they tried. Yet here you are, healthy and whole, doing whatever they tell you to like a good little sheep while your people suffer and die.”

Pressure built behind my eyes at the accusation, a warning of impending tears. I could imagine that hopeless boy hiding alone on a rooftop after losing everything, and then coming to save that ferocious girl, only to find me in her place. I was a disappointment to him, I could tell. And he hated me for it.

The bathing room door clicked open, and I ducked lower in the fluff of my blankets, dashing my hand across my eyes to push back the tears.

“Shower’s free,” Ghost said with a meaningful look at Shadow.

Taking the hint, my broody decoy grabbed a stack of clothes and headed into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.

Ghost sat on the edge of the nest, closest to where I had burrowed, and his voice rippled through me. “Hey, you okay, princess?”

I rubbed at my eyes again. “Don’t call me that.”

“Why not? It’s what you are.” His lips hooked up in a half smile.

“I don’t want to be a princess, or a queen, or betrothed. Surely none of that can still stand. I don’t want people to suffer and die.” The tears I had been fighting spilled free, and I sniffed back a sob.

Ghost’s smile faded and pressed flat. “I see someone’s been running their mouth. This isn’t how I wanted you to find out. I’d hoped we would be halfway home by now in the comfort of a transport where Lex could explain everything. Listen, no one is going to make you do anything you don’t want to do. There is nothing to worry about. But if you really want to help, you will be able to once we’re free of this place.”

“But Shadow lost so much. His whole family died.” The moment it was out of my mouth, I knew I’d fucked up.

Ghost cocked his head. “Who’s Shadow?”

Mortified, I buried my face in the covers. I should never have given them nicknames. I knew this was going to happen.

The blankets were gently pulled away, and Ghost brushed a stray hair from my cheek. “Who’s Shadow?”

“Designations are so formal and cold.” I sniffled. “When we first met, I gave you nicknames. It’s stupid, I’m sorry.” I tried to sink into the bedding and become invisible, but it wasn’t working very well.

“So, you decided to call Valyx Shadow?” He chuckled. “And what did you name me, princess?”

“It’s so dumb, I don’t want to tell you. This is embarrassing. Can we pretend I didn’t say anything?”

“Nope, it’s too late now. Ailouros is out of the bag. Spill.” It was sweet that he was trying to lighten the mood with his playful banter, and it put me more at ease.

“Fine! Fine. I’ll tell you, but do not laugh.“ I gave him a stern look. He grinned back at me expectantly. “I call you Ghost.” An embarrassing flush warmed my cheeks waiting for him to laugh at me but, to my surprise, he didn’t.

“Ghost, huh? All right, I’ll take it. Does this mean you think I sneak around bursting out of hiding places shouting, ‘Boo!’ to scare people?” He was having far too much fun with my embarrassment.

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