Page 137 of The Throne's Undoing

"Shit," Kallie hissed under her breath.

Graeson's gaze immediately found hers, and his hand fell from Nyrri's chin, which caused the creature to whine and push at his hand, which was now limp at his side. Surrendering to her pleas, Graeson lazily patted Nyrri's snout, but his attention was fixed on Kallie.

"Sorry," Kallie mumbled, scratching the back of her head. "I didn't mean to interrupt."

"You're not interrupting," Graeson said perhaps a little too quickly. "We were only training."

"Training?" Kallie asked as she walked over.

Graeson hummed. "The Tetrians are still a little nervous around her, but she needs to be stimulated. If she sits in the garden for too long, she'll grow restless. It's the same thing for horses or dogs. You have to entertain them and exercise with them. Restlessness and boredom aren't good for an animal."

"Is that what Ellie, Medenia, and Terin are doing with me?" Kallie mused darkly as she began petting Nyrri.

"That's not--" Graeson sighed, raking his hand through his hair. "They're only trying to help, but if it is a bother--"

She waved him off. "I'm only joking. I don't mind them dragging me out of the castle."

"Are they treating you well?"

Kallie could feel his gaze on her, but she did not look at him. "Yes. Ellie has knocked me on my ass several times, but it at least gives me something to do. I feel...well, useless," Kallie said.

"You're not useless," Graeson said, his tone serious.

"Ever since I woke up, I have felt lost. It's strange." Kallie peered up at him and shrugged. She wasn't sure why she was telling him this, yet it felt good to say it aloud. "I don't know. For so long, my objective has been showing Domitius that I was capable of more, that I was worthy of him."

"You've always been worthy, Kalisandre," Graeson assured her. "You never needed anyone to tell you that, especially not him."

Kallie could hear the conviction in Graeson's voice, but she couldn't quite bring herself to believe him. While she no longer sought Domitius's approval or validation, his words still felt wrong.

"You may not believe it now," Graeson said as if he could read her mind, "but one day, you will."

Kallie offered him a sad smile but remained silent.

Graeson tipped his head toward Nyrri. "Do you want to see what we've been working on?"

Kallie smiled and nodded, thankful for a change of subject.

"Sit over there," he said, pointing to one of the nearby trees.

Kallie did as he instructed, and then he was commanding Nyrri.

Once Graeson had exhaustedthe dragon-wolf with his commands, Nyrri curled into a large ball between Kallie and Graeson. And for a time, a comfortable silence befell them, punctuated only by birds chirping.

As Kallie sat there, her mind began to replay the conversations that occurred recently, and one thing Dani had said kept repeating over and over until Kallie couldn't take it anymore.

"Graeson, can I ask you something?" she asked, sparing him a glance.

"Hmm?" Graeson hummed, his eyes still closed as he rested his head against the trunk of one of the trees. His black hair was a stark contrast against the white bark of the trees.

When Kallie hesitated, the question stuck in her throat as she watched him. He arched a brow, waiting.

Kallie finally forced the words out. "What is a soul bond?"

Graeson's eyes snapped open. "I'm sorry?" he stammered.

"A soul bond, what is it?"

Nyrri, as if sensing the tension, stood and trotted away. She curled into a ball in a spot in the sun. As she laid her head atop a paw, a red eye peered at them.

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