The Triton

Chapter 23: Vivien

When I woke, I could still feel the bond, I could still feel him.

The pain was gone, and when I looked down, the wound was, too. My mother's work, most likely. It ached dully, but no other evidence remained of the ambush.

It was not empty in my bedchambers. Rosann turned as he heard me stir, his expression a mix of concern and relief.

"How are you feeling, Your Highness?" he asked gently.

"Fine. Sore, a little, but nothing else. I'm going to be late again, I need to get up." I shifted myself to the edge of the bed, pressing my feet into the floor. At some point, I'd been changed into a nightgown.

"She is...busy, looking for how the Beast's creatures breached our defenses. You've been through a lot. You should take it easy for once."

Ignoring his concern, I stood up, the coolness of the floor grounding me. "What would I have done today if I weren't in bed?"

He sighed, a resigned look crossing his face. "I had a special place to show you tonight. Somewhere outside the palace."

"Then we're going," I said, determination hardening my voice. "What should I wear?"

Rosann's eyes flickered with surprise and then settled into a look of approval. "Fighting leathers," he replied, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "We'll be outside."

I nodded and moved to the closet, the dark, fitted fighting leathers feeling familiar and reassuring against my skin. They'd been cleaned, both of my blood and that of the monsters'. I dressed swiftly, feeling a renewed sense of purpose as I buckled the straps and adjusted the fit. The weight of the necklace Eleanora had given me rested heavily in the back of my mind, its absence a constant reminder of the bond I still grappled with.

As I fastened the last buckle, Rosann's eyes fell on the necklace sitting untouched on my vanity. "You haven't worn the necklace."

"Yeah," I admitted, my voice quiet as I avoided his gaze. "I don't really know why"

Rosann walked over, picking up the necklace with a careful reverence. "You should wear it, Your Highness," he said gently, holding it out to me. "We need to get out of this palace, and this will help protect you."

"But the Beast is out there," I said, my voice tinged with apprehension. "You don't understand—we're connected. He's coming for me."

Rosann's eyes held mine, unwavering. "Then wear the necklace," he urged. "It's protective. It bears powerful magic from your mother."

I frowned, my fingers hesitating over the pendant. "What do you mean?"

"You are shrouded from him when you wear it," Rosann explained, his voice steady and reassuring. "Even if he did, by dumb luck stumble upon you, there's no way he would attack with your mother's magic protecting you."

The weight of his words settled over me, a mixture of relief and anxiety swirling in my chest. "Are you sure? She did not say that."

Rosann nodded, his expression earnest. "I am."

With a deep breath, I took the necklace from him, the cool metal sending a shiver through me as I fastened it around my neck. The pendant rested against my scales, a comforting weight that seemed to pulse with a faint warmth.

"Besides, the Beast has just failed. He will take time to recover..." he trailed off, passion fading from his voice, and he shook his head as if clearing it. "You should rest, I don't know what I'm saying."

I turned for the door, and started walking. "Nope, let's go, don't make me order you to."

"Of course, Your Highness."