Page 71 of Their Chosen

I gritted my teeth, trying to reign in my temper. A hand pressed on my lower shoulder and softly glanced across my tunic, the heat searing my skin despite the light touch. I jumped and whirled around.

“What!?” I barked out, immediately regretting my tone when she flinched away from me, holding her hands up and out in front of her, demonstrating she wasn't a threat.

Quietly, too soft for the others to hear even with their advanced hearing, she asked, “You okay?” Her brow furrowed in concern.

“Just great!” I bit out sarcastically.

She lifted one side of her mouth in a smile. “Doesn't seem that way to me, but okay. If you insist. I just wanted to check and let you know that if you needed to talk, I'm a pretty good listener.”

I wanted to lash out at her, to tell her that I didn't need her help. I held back, running my free hand through my hair, and huffed out a sigh, releasing some of my tension. “Thanks, but I'm good.”

“If you say so.” She shrugged at me.

I growled, getting fed up with her refusal to let this go. I stepped closer to her, invading her personal space and towering over her slight frame. “If you must know, I'm not a huge fan of this whole situation.”

She gasped mockingly, her hand going to her chest. “Really! I would have never guessed,” she teased, her smile flirting with her lips and her eyes sparkling with mischief.

I had meant to be intimidating, to get her to leave me alone, but she wasn't backing down from the challenge. Her mirth growing on me and surprisingly easing some of the tension.

“For real though,” she paused and placed her hand on my chest over my heart, her face turning more serious with concern, “If anyone can understand, it's me. Trust me. This is not how I envisioned my life.” She forced out a chuckle, holding my gaze for a second longer. I wanted to grab her by the nape of her neck and crush her lips to mine. I wanted to slam her up against the wall and feel her wrap her legs around me. Having her this close was messing with my head.

I shook my head to clear it pointlessly, still not responding. She sighed and stepped back, shaking her head at me. “Fine, have it your way. When you're ready, come find me.”

She turned her back on me then, walking back to Baer, who stood watching both of us, concern on his face. As she went back to him, his face changed, lighting up with genuine joy. He was lucky not to have a past like mine. He didn't wake up every morning hating himself or struggling under the weight of his people counting on him to free them.

I growled, running my hand through my hair again, wanting to punch something. I walked back to the weapons table and threw my sword down, not bothering to sharpen or clean it. I needed to get out of here.

As I made my way to the door, Arryn stepped in front of me, blocking my exit and pissing me off. “Get out of my way!” I growled out at him, not raising my voice, but the danger was evident in every syllable.

He just regarded me nonchalantly, stuffing his hands in his pockets as if unconcerned. “No.”

“I'm serious, Arryn, I need to get out of here. This isn't helping me.”

“This isn't helping Rhowyn either, you running away every single time you get upset. If I didn't know any better, I would think you were a spoiled child throwing a temper tantrum every time he didn't get his way,” he said accusingly.

I growled, my fists clenching and my body shaking as I restrained myself from punching him. “You know absolutely nothing.”

“You're right. I don't know anything.” That confession took me aback, and I rocked back on my heels. “So, tell me.”

My breaths were ragged with my emotions as I stood there regarding him, debating whether or not to trust and confide in him. Knowing I couldn't continue on this way, knowing I needed to commit to a course of action, I decided to test him.

“You know my people still look to me to save them.” At his nod, I continued, “Then you also know that having more people counting on me is not easy for me. I'm not sure if I should go along with being a consort, knowing that I need to do the best thing for my people above all else.”

He nodded in understanding, mulling through my rushed confession. “Understandable. But I think you're thinking about this all wrong. By supporting Rhowyn, you'll be able to help them more than you have since becoming the queen's plaything,” he said, not holding back his true thoughts on me.

I studied him, trying not to give away the fact that his assessment hit too close to home. “That's only if this whole thing works out. We have no way to ensure that it does.”

“Yeah, but your way wasn't working either. Did you really think she would ever be foolish enough to let you inside her inner circle? No matter how much she enjoyed your company?” he challenged me.

Anger surged through me, and I clenched my fists, turning my back on him. I wanted to run away from the truth of his statement, but I held my ground, whirling back to face him. “Say you're right. Say the only chance I have to save my people is to go along with this. What happens if we fail?”

He shrugged, his body language saying he didn't have any worries, but his eyes gave away his thoughts, his fear. “If we fail, then we're all screwed anyway.”

Fuck. He was right. If her power was allowed to grow unchecked, then all of Avalon was doomed. Her tastes would continue to grow more and more sadistic. She was already growing in her bloodthirst, needing to push the limits further and further, no longer satisfied with the usual games she played. I'd noticed it, but I hadn't wanted to admit it to myself.

He was right, but I didn't like it. At least before I could pretend I had some choice in the matter. Now, it seemed I couldn't avoid the truth, the glaring fact that the only hope we had to possibly succeed was to go forward with being Rhowyn's consorts.

He let my mind race. Standing there watching me come to the inevitable conclusion. He met my gaze steadily. “Now, the question is, what are we going to do to make sure she succeeds?”

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