The Stains of the Crown

Chapter Thirty Three

Trigger warnings: mentions of torture, psychological abuse, effects of past domestic violence.

Jovi and Vita argue for a long time about whether or not I should go. I didn't understand most of it, especially Vita's concerns. Still, Vita eventually relents. The carriage ride to her castle is long and slow, and it doesn't help that Jovi and Sevas won't let the drivers go even slightly fast.

When we eventually get there, I watch something change in Vita. She goes from her cocky, confident self to quiet, reserved, practically cowering. The look on Jovi's face tells me she notices, too. I watch her stand up straighter when we enter the castle. She glares down one of the guards, who doesn't so much as glance at us but still wears the slightest smirk. Had to be Damia.

"Echo, stop," Vita whispers. "Don't grab her attention." I sigh, but do as she asks. Jovi had explained to me before we came that she wanted me to keep my distance from Damia, that she wanted me to be practically invisible. She'd said that if Damia knew who I was to Vita, or to her, I'd be in danger. Unfortunately, that meant Jovi sleeping in a separate room and pretending not to know me. I'd been tasked with pretending to be closer to Sevas than with Vita. Vix, Finley, and I were all supposed to act like we were friends of Sevas and knew Vita hardly at all. Already, this was hard.

"Alright, you guys go get cleaned up and then we can all eat," Sevas says. I thank her before following a servant to the room Vix, Finley and I would be staying in. I wasn't exactly sure what Jovi had said to Sevas to get her own room without raising suspicion, but whatever it was, it had worked.

"Do you know what's going on?" Finley asks once I close the door.

"What do you mean?" I ask as I search through my suitcase.

"Jovi won't tell us why we're here or why we have all these plans like pretending we hardly know Vita, or why she's staying in a separate room." I sigh, setting my clothes on the bed.

"I know bits and pieces, enough to know that there's a good reason for it. I think there's more to it than they're saying, though."

"Well, what are they saying?" I give her an almost guilty smile.

"I can't tell you. I promised Vita that I wouldn't say anything." She huffs, but nods, wrapping her arms around me.

"How's your head?" she asks, pressing a kiss to my cheek. I shrug, wrapping my arms around her neck. It was harder to reach now, what with the baby in the way, but it was still comfortable.

"No different than the last time you asked," I tease with a grin. She chuckles softly, giving me a quick kiss before going back to her own luggage.

"I'm just worried about you." I could feel a change in her mood, but still, she smiles. I decide to play along, giving her a quick smile before heading to the bathroom. I barely get the shower started before I feel Vix wrap her arms around me from behind.

"Whatcha doin?" I ask. She shrugs, pulling me a little closer. As much as I was enjoying her holding me, I couldn't help but feel like there was something on her mind. I turn around to face her. "What's on your mind?" I ask softly. She lays her head on my shoulder.

"Nothing," she says softly. I wasn't sure I quite believed her, but holding her was nice. I decide to just do that until she pulls away. She gives me a kiss before leaving the room. I don't really understand what just happened, but I needed to shower and head down for dinner. I shower quickly and go to get dressed, but Finley's sitting on the bed with a look that tells me she wants to talk.

"What?" I ask, pulling a shirt over my head. She sighs.

"Vix was afraid to ask this, but before we go back home, she wants us to visit her parents."