Page 11 of Ruined Kingdom

“Fine, I’ll tell you.” He half leaned back and half sat on the edge of his desk, crossing his arms over his chest. “Deer with golden coats are considered as part of a long-forgotten myth, even to us. No one really knows much about them, except that they are extremely powerful, wise, and elusive beings. It’s very likely that this creature only set out to protect you, but there’s no way of knowing what its true intentions are.”

I crossed my arms, feeling a fiery annoyance fill in where I was once sick to my stomach. “And why exactly did you think you needed to hide this from me?”

He let out a sad, breathy laugh before looking up at me with earnest eyes. A soft, melancholic smile played in the corners of his mouth. “I'm just getting so tired of telling you about the horrible things in my world. One day it's going to become too much for you, and you're going to want to leave.”

“I thought you agreed not to underestimate me anymore.” I tilted my head, unwilling to back down.

He narrowed his eyes at me, and I could tell this was going to be the beginning of an argument.

Before he was able to speak, however, the office door flung open. “Sophia! I can’t believe—oh, my goodness! I’m so sorry. I?—”

Lexi came bounding in without a moment's hesitation, only to be sorely embarrassed.

I quickly turned away, attempting to conceal my bare torso with the sides of my opened dress. Luckily, the straps were still over my shoulders, so I only needed to bring the folds of my dress together to cover my chest again.

Lexi concealed her face with one hand as she turned quickly to leave. Her shoulder slammed into the door frame, and she yelped in pain before shutting the door behind her.

I was completely mortified, my jaw loose and hanging open.

“Perhaps we should continue this conversation later. It seems other people are happy you’re back as well.” Kaine grimaced as he came up to me to retie my corset for me. “Come to me later in my chambers. I’ll be waiting for you there,” he commanded coldly, and I had a flashback of the man—and Beast—he’d been when I was first made to stay here.

Honestly, he could be crossed with me all he wanted, but I was just so pleased to see him, to be with him again, that it didn't matter which version of him I got.

I opened the office door to find Lexie standing against the wall with her arms crossed tightly over her stomach.

“Lexi,” I breathed out joyfully as she wrapped her arms around me.

“I’m so sorry to intrude. I just couldn’t believe it when Tieni told me that you were alive,” she sobbed into my ear while kissing the side of my head.

How did Tieni find out before anyone else? Oh! That’s right. General Eugin is her husband if I’m not mistaken.

“What on earth happened to you?” She pulled away, grabbing my arm so that she could get a good look at me.

“Is it all right if we talk about it tomorrow? I don't think I have the strength to recollect it all tonight.” I pouted at her, which did the trick.

“Of course. Take all the time you need. I’m just happy you’re here.” She smiled, but there was a crack in the thin veneer of her happiness.

The moment she saw I’d picked up on it, she looked away from me guiltily.

“It’s just…” She folded her arm into mine and started walking me down the hall. “...I was right there. I held your hand as you passed. I checked your pulse, and there was nothing. You were as cold as ice. We were making funeral arrangements for you already. I feel like I cried myself into an endless sleep where I could dream that you’re still alive… I’m deathly afraid now that I’ll wake up, and you’ll still be… dead.”

That confirmed my suspicion that everyone had been with me when I died. It was so strange that I couldn’t entirely recall everything before I’d slipped away—which was probably for the best.

“I’m very real, Lexi,” I assured her, grabbing her hand and rubbing it vigorously so that she knew I wasn’t just a dream but flesh and bones. “It was by the miracle of the Goddess, and the touch of a most auspicious animal, but I am here. I hope you didn’t suffer too greatly while I was gone.”

“I suffered more than I thought any human could. You are my chosen family. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.” Tears came to her eyes again, but this time she attempted to blink them back before they could spill.

More footsteps came from down the hall. “All right, that’s enough hogging her. We all missed her just the same.” Sharra rolled her eyes playfully at Lexi before brushing past her to grab both of my hands. She looked me dead in my eyes, and I knew what she was about to say next was not to be taken lightly. “Listen closely to me. If you ever do that to us again, you better pray I don’t learn how to summon spirits because I will make your afterlife a living hell.”

“I missed you, too, Sharra,” I smiled back at her.

Her face twisted into something like forced disgust, but she nodded affirmingly. As she stepped back from me, I noticed her sister standing off to the side.

“Don’t believe a word she’s saying. She cried so many tears that I worried I would drown in my sleep if she carried on like that any longer,” she chuckled behind her fingers.

Sharra snapped her head around and hissed at her sarcastically, “Thank you, Tara.”

So, Tara is her sister’s name.

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