Page 105 of The King's Weapon

Graeson stepped up to Myra and the masked man who continued dancing. Myra's eyes opened and she shouted, her hands waving in the air, "Graeson, dance with us!”

With one look from Graeson, the masked man scurried off.

Myra didn't notice her dance partner's absence. "Kallie, you too!” She drew out the last syllable of Kallie's name, smiling widely and running over to pull Kallie into her dancing circle.

"Myra, no. Wait," Kallie said, trying to pull her grip from her friend's hold. But Myra, drunk on the lavender drink and the pure freedom that now ran through her body, was relentless and tugged back.

Myra spun Kallie around. And when Kallie faced her once more, Kallie grabbed Myra's shoulders. "Myra. Listen."

Myra wobbled underneath Kallie's grip, but she stopped dancing, brows knitting together. "Hmm?"

"Myra, we need to go. Something is going on by the pier." Kallie searched her friend's eyes and watched as she slowly absorbed her words.

Myra nodded, the terror and confusion sobering her up enough to understand Kallie’s tone. Kallie grabbed her hand, then the four of them hurried out of the building.

They took the wagon back to the palace, Fynn and Dani having taken off on foot toward the fire. As they made the journey back to the palace, they watched from a distance as the fire spread toward the village.

When the driver of the wagon came to a full stop, they jumped out. Terin helped Myra, who was still coming down from her buzz. When Myra hit the ground, Kallie grabbed her hand and they all sprinted up the marble steps toward the palace doors.

Graeson stopped in front of the two guards who stood posted at the front doors and informed them of what was going on at the pier. After exchanging glances, one of them ran off inside, disappearing down the hall.

In the entryway, Graeson turned to Terin. "Take her to the safe room and grab the queen."

At his words, a fire stirred to life inside of her. She would not be thrown into a room and locked up while others were fighting her fight. She would not be hidden away. She had been hiding her entire life. And she wouldn’t do it anymore. Not after finally realizing what freedom meant.

This was her life, her doing.

Her choice.

She took a step toward Graeson. "I'm going with you."

Graeson didn't flinch, but he didn’t bother to acknowledge her either. Instead, he looked right past her and spoke to Terin, "If they've come to take your sister, we need to make sure that they are unsuccessful.Do notlet her out of your sight."

Kallie felt like she had been slapped across the face. And she didn't know what hurt worse. The fact that he didn't bother to look her in her eyes to give her a chance to apologize. Or that he seemed to have forgotten everything that they had said to each other over the past few weeks.

Or perhaps what hurt the most was that he didn't even bother to say her name as if it was now poison on his tongue. And she cursed herself for once thinking that she had feelings for the man who stood before her. The man who didn't even acknowledge her presence, who ignored her very existence.

This was why she had sworn off feelings of love. Before it warped the mind, it made an individual feel as if their self-worth, their existence depended on the person they loved. But love shouldn't make someone feel less than they are. It should empower. It should make the person feel untouchable, unbreakable.

However, standing here in the stone hallway, Kallie felt frail and disposable.

This was not love. This was merely infatuation. Graeson had only been someone for her to hold onto when everything else in her life was falling apart. And now it was time to let him go too and stand on her own two feet.

While she tried to understand what was going on in her head, Terin nodded and Graeson turned on his heels.

Kallie stared at the back of his head, at the dark strands of hair that had just run between her fingers. And despite her anger, she still wondered if he would look back at her as he walked out of those doors, if he would grant her one more chance to see those silver eyes that tore through her soul.

Because once he slipped past those doors, once they went their separate ways here, everything would change and Graeson would never look at her the same.

And she hated herself for feeling that way, for wondering. Because despite her betrayal, she still thought that maybe, just maybe, if he turned around and gave her a chance, whatever happened next would pass. They would be able to return to the cavern, pretend like they weren't the people they were. Pretend that they didn't have any responsibilities or owed anyone anything.

However, when he stopped at the opened door, her heart shook uncontrollably. She was wrong, she did not want to meet his gaze. Did not want to see the hurt, the pain.

And by the blessings of the gods, she did not have to, for his head turned to the side, eyes downcast. His lips parted as if he was going to say something, but instead, he shook his head and walked out.

If he had let her explain that when she saw the guard in Borgania, she was still unsure of who to trust. If he allowed her to explain her motives, her reasonings, perhaps he would understand. But there was no going back now. They both knew that.

Graeson would forever view her actions as a form of betrayal. As if she had a choice in the matter. And no explanation, no excuse would unravel the mess Kallie had created.

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