Page 8 of Own to Obtain

Her sister looked tired. Deep lines were now on her forehead. She also looked… worn around the edges, her clothes crumpled, and her hair unbrushed, as though she hadn’t been taking usual care of herself, and that caught Shaya’s attention.

Although they looked alike, Kyus had always been the better-looking one out of the two of them. Shaya was plain and was barely noticeable, but Kyus drew attention wherever she went, even if she wasn’t trying. Her features were striking, her voice was rich and gorgeous, and her curvy figure was one both men and women admired. She was forced to lean into her attributes and make full use of them as a spy, which meant the upkeep of treated hair, flowing gowns, and stunning jewelry, but when she was at home, Kyus was most comfortable and relaxed in a simple tunic or even bedclothes.

Shaya shifted to face her and turned the pillow horizontal underneath her head, the way it was supposed to be, but Kyus stirred, opening her eyes and smiling down at her.

“How are you feeling?” Kyus asked softly, scooting down on the bed, rolling onto one side and propping her head up with her elbow.

Shaya took a shaky breath. The grey within her had significantly lessened. She certainly felt more clearheaded and capable of focusing. Maybe it was the dream of Kardos that had changed the feeling, but she was ashamed to admit that. “All right,” she replied hesitantly. “How long has it been?”

“Only two days.”

Shaya sighed, relieved she hadn’t kept them from traveling for weeks. “Thank you, it was difficult to tell.” She fought to find the words she wanted to say. “I-I’m sorry about my behavior. I can explain…”

Kyus watched her carefully, her deep brown eyes darting over Shaya’s face. “Tell me what happened.”

“I thought you said we had to leave,” Shaya asked, a nervousness trembling within her. “We’re still going aren’t we?”

“Yes,” Kyus said slowly. “But I underestimated that you might need more time to process what has happened to you.”

“No, I am all right,” Shaya said, a spark of panic and defensiveness rising in her. “I am well. I just have trouble when I’m sleeping—”

“Tell me everything, Shaya,” Kyus said, her voice firm and quiet. “From the moment you left the room in King Malloron’s castle.”

Nervousness and embarrassment bloomed so strongly, Shaya wanted to curl up into a ball before her sister’s probing eyes. She couldn’t tell her. There was just no way she could talk about some of it, especially not… No, it wasn’t possible to say the words. Shaya tried to think of every answer she could give to prevent herself from having to explain what happened with Kardos, but even as she considered what she could say, she knew she couldn’t lie to Kyus. She had never been able to lie to her.

Kyus took her hand and threaded her fingers through Shaya’s. “You are my little sister, Shaya,” she said softly. “There is absolutely nothing you can say—nothing—that will change my love for you and the respect I have for you.”

Shaya was amazed to see her eyes fill with tears and her nose flare. Kyus had never once cried, at least never in front of Shaya.

“I’m immensely proud to have raised such a generous, self-sacrificing, and brave Omega,” she continued, smiling. “I have learned so much just from you doing that one thing for me.” She paused. “But I need to know everything that happened so I can make the right choices now that you have returned.”

Shaya swallowed. If what she said could help them find some way to hide and stay hidden, then she had to be truthful, no matter how uncomfortable it may be.

Taking a deep breath, she told Kyus everything; from the moment she left her standing in the room in King Malloron’s castle, to the moment she was running along the bridge over the ocean and into her arms.

For the most part, Kyus listened with a carefully neutral expression, which Shaya knew was purposeful. But even with her extensive training as a spy, she was unable to hide the hardness in her eyes when Shaya recounted some of the torturous suffering Kardos had inflicted on her.

The urge to turn her face away rose strongly as she described their moments watching the ocean, or any of their sexual and intimate encounters, but she forced herself to hold Kyus’ gaze and continue on, knowing that Kyus would want to know everything, hoping she would understand at least a little why she made the choices she did.

As she described her escape, recalling her last ride on the tobo, the speed at which she flew across the snow and the bright beauty of the landscape around her, the greyness within her weighed increased but she tried her hardest to push it away.

When she finally finished, Kyus was silent for a long time. She had returned to her upright position, her gaze fixed across the other side of the room, but clearly not seeing any of it as her index finger tapped on her thigh. Shaya watched her carefully, wondering what was going through her mind. Finally, she decided she needed to be involved in Kyus’ thought process.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” Shaya murmured. “I want your true thoughts.”

“Shaya,” Kyus said, turning to her as she smiled. “I always give you my true thoughts.”

“You do.” Shaya hesitated. “But sometimes you only stick to the things that are safe and comforting. I don’t want that now. I want the raw truth.”

Kyus’ smile did not falter. “Let me worry about the raw truth.”

“No.” Shaya shifted her gaze over Kyus’ shoulder for a moment and gathered her thoughts. “I’m not a child anymore, Kyus. I know you have protected me and tried to keep me safe, I can see that now, but things have changed now. I’ve had to grow up. I look back now and see I was so childlike—so ignorant of the world.” She shook her head. “But I’m not that Shaya anymore. I can’t be, and I don’t want to be. I want us to be real sisters and do this together.”

Kyus broke their gaze and inhaled as though it pained her. Her full smile fell away, replaced by a thoughtful and troubled expression that Shaya had rarely seen before. She tried not to let it panic her, embracing the turning point in their sisterly relationship.

Kyus rubbed her cheek, remaining in deep thought for a long while, before turning to Shaya, her voice quiet. “I didn’t realize you would fall so deeply in love with him.”

Shaya started, a shock bounding through her body. “I’m not.” She clenched her fist together, a frown deepening as she shot Kyus an annoyed look. “Didn’t you hear anything I said?”

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