Page 94 of The Throne's Undoing

When Kallie looked upon the princess, fear was only a passing thought.

The queen had already destroyed Kallie's soul. There was nothing left for Medenia to take from Kallie, even if the princess wanted to.

Medenia folded her arms across her chest, blowing a strand of hair that had fallen from the plait. "I suppose Opal wasn't kidding about you being stubborn, huh? I had hoped the healer was exaggerating about your...lack of enthusiasm. Well, that's just not going to work for me. It's time to get up, Princess."

Kallie's forehead creased with wrinkles at the title.

Shewasa princess; she used to own a title. But now? Now what was she?

Whowas she?

Medenia rolled her eyes. "Fine. I'll get you up myself then, but if I hurt you, you only have yourself to blame," she said snidely.

Medenia bent over the bed, digging her hands beneath Kallie's shoulders and tugging her up. Kallie's head spun, and she tossed out a hand, gripping the sheets as she attempted to steady herself.

"Some fresh air would do you some good, I think," Medenia muttered as she continued her torture. She pulled Kallie's legs from under the blankets and brought them over the edge of the bed.

Kallie groaned as her knee cracked, pain blossoming through her leg.

Medenia flicked a brow up. "If you wish to stay in this room, all you have to do is say so." The princess waited, her hands folded in front of her stomach.

Kallie dropped her gaze, too tired to fight her.

"Then it's settled." Medenia clapped her hands together.

Pulling Kallie up by the crook of the elbow, Medenia guided her out of the room. Well, more like dragged her out of the room.

Outside the infirmary, the sound of rapid, clumsy footsteps drew Kallie's attention. A large, shaggy, brown dog bounded toward them, its tongue lolling out the side of its mouth as it panted eagerly.

"Hi, Beau!" Medenia greeted the dog with a cheerful smile, reaching down to pet its head. "I can't play right now. Go find Ophelia, all right?"

Beau cocked his head and let out a sad whine.

"Beau," Medenia scolded gently.

The dog released an exasperated huff before dashing down the hall.

"He's been so needy since we returned," Medenia said, shaking her head and guiding Kallie through the corridor. "I missed him of course, but right now is not the best time to play fetch."

Kallie said nothing in response, her attention solely focused on staying upright.

Their walk was slow and laborious, but their pace didn't seem to bother Medenia even as they made the trek down the steps at a torturous pace.

"It's unfortunate that you tried to escape the first night. If you hadn't, perhaps they would have been more inclined to set you up on the main floor," Medenia remarked as they descended the steps. "But they were worried that you'd take off again when you woke. Maybe we can convince them to move you now. It doesn't seem like you're going anywhere anytime soon."

Kallie gave Medenia a cursory glance. The Tetrian princess was rather...peculiar. But peculiar or not, Medenia had shown Kallie nothing but kindness when they had met at the welcome dinner and then again before the hunt started.

Yet sometimes, the princess's words, if twisted a certain way, sounded like an insult. Kallie wasn't sure if she should havebeen insulted or not at that moment. Still, she remained silent nevertheless.

Medenia shrugged and helped Kallie down the last few steps. "Come on," she said before guiding Kallie to a set of glass doors leading outside.

Kallie wasn't quite sure if a stroll outside was what she needed.

Then again, she didn't know exactlywhatshe needed, or even what she wanted, for that matter.

The sun kissed Kallie's skin as the doors cracked open, and the fresh air tickled her nose. As Kallie scanned the enclosed garden, she inhaled a sharp breath at the sight of a foreign creature resting in the middle of the flowers beside a fountain and stopped dead in her tracks.

"Oh!" Medenia squealed, squeezing Kallie's arm. "I don't believe the two of you have formally met. Unless..." she trailed off, peering at Kallie, a brow arched. "Haveyou seen her before?"

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