Page 128 of The Throne's Undoing

Graeson squeezed the bridge of his nose, then sighed. "You want to know what happened back there?"

She nodded.

"I'm not...I'm not in control of myself half of the time. I told you before that my mother passed when I was born, and the one who claims the title offatherwas no father to me. He abandoned my mother the moment he was done with her, tossing her to the side as if she was no more than last week's bread. He's notsomeone I look up to, nor someone I ever wish to be. However, the world never listens to the things we want, does it?"

Graeson twisted the rings on his hands. Each one was a reminder of who he was and who he wished to remain.

He sighed. "The more time that has passed, the more I become just like him."

"But I thought you didn't know your father?" she asked.

"I do not claim to know him, for I do not think he truly lets anyoneknowhim. But I have met him. And every time I have the misfortune of interacting with him, the anger that has lived within me only grows worse," Graeson gritted out. "I didn't realize it until a few years ago, but that's what his objective has been the entire time.

"He only wishes to push me to my limits, to enrage me, and to force me to turn into him. My mother was a seer, yet somehow my mother never saw my father for who he was."

"Which was?"

"A god."

The two words sat heavy between them as the steam surrounded them, the hot air wrapping its tendrils around their bodies.

Graeson had thought that when he spoke the words aloud, the truth would have a way of destroying the world. That it would shatter his life and change how Kalisandre looked at him. But when Graeson met Kalisandre's gaze, he did not see an ounce of fear in her blue eyes.

As if she knew he was searching for it, Kalisandre said, "You say that as if it changes anything."

"It should change everything," he scoffed.

"Why? Because you are half god?" she chuckled, as if they were discussing the weather or something humorous Nyrri had done.

But perhaps she did not understand the ramifications of the statement.

"I am dangerous, Kalisandre. When the god side comes out, reason goes out the window. I am unable to see logic or sense. I am unable to do anything but let the rage control me."

"Is this what you were so nervous about telling me?"

Graeson blinked.

Her brows furrowed in utter seriousness. "Graeson, I am not scared of you."

"That is your mistake then," he whispered, his gaze falling to the water between them.

"Were you ever scared of me?" she asked after a moment.

Graeson snapped his attention back to her, his mouth falling open. "No, I could never be scared of you."

She tapped her fingers on the edge of the pool. "How many times did I try to kill you, though?"

"Do nightmares count?" Graeson asked with amusement.

Kalisandre shook her head, but a small smile formed before she sighed. "I am being serious, Graeson. I have done terrible things in my lifetime. I was a weapon for a king who lied to me my entire life. You have never been afraid of me, so why is it so odd that I would not be scared of you?"

His hands fell into the water with a small splash. "Because most are," he said with a shrug. "Even those who do not understand my background are scared of me."

"Well, I am not most people." She shrugged.

Kalisandre pushed off the bench and stood, the water sloshing around her. The tips of her hair were soaked and fell over her chest, covering her breasts.

Graeson quickly turned his attention back to her face.

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