Bone and Blood Volume I

31 - The Nest, 1927

Torani had never been in a knight's den before. Vaeilentha had carved out his special prince den. He had moved into it before he reached knight. Strange how different this space was.

A single-chamber room tall enough to walk into. Beyond the narrow entryway, a rock bench stood by the right-side wall. Divots on the left side acted as an organizer, housing spare clothes and Serana's medical supplies. The bed was cut into the back wall. A gently curving rock slab similar to the platforms in the cocooning dens. Serana lay there, arms crossed and expression neutral. The most stoic he had ever seen her.

Perhaps it was best to leave her like that. To just sit and watch. That is what a coward would do. And Torani was definitely a coward. He leaned against the wall.

If Serana remained ignorant to the plan and Vaeilentha tried to make a claim on her, all hell would break loose. Even if the princess handled the situation, deep down, Serana would be terrified. Or furious. Or both. Torani would never put her through that.

He kneeled next to her bed. His hand hovered over her. Fighting the last excuses to not face her wrath, he tapped on her shoulder. Her hand shot up. Death grip around his wrist. A low growl rumbled from her semi-conscious body.

"Rana, it's me."

"What?" A groan as she blinked furiously. Her unfocused eyes drifted to his. Her expression hardened. "What, prince?"

"N-not prince. Rani."

A blank stare. She slowly rose to sitting position. Rubbed at her eyes. Cracked a kink in her neck. "So... you're not here on business from the queen."

"No."

"You're not supposed to be here at all."

"No."

"Good." She launched at him. Pinned him to the ground. Swiped at his face. Torani squirmed to avoid her attacks. Saw an opening. Shoved her back. Scooted into the den's front wall. Serana stayed in place, poised to leap. "Get. Out."

"Rana, I—"

"Don't call me that! Get your fucking hide out of here!"

"You know I didn't mean what I said before! Right!? Zehra was—!"

"You are so full of shit!"

"I didn't have a choice before!"

"Oh, and suddenly you do now!?"

"S-sort of?"

"GET. OUT."

"Just—Listen—Ilen—!" Serana's posture tightened. About to pounce. Torani choked it out: "Ilen took me back!"

Rage to confusion to disgust. Serana's mouth quivered but no words came out.

"She doesn't care how I act. She doesn't what I do with you. So, this is me. Not Prince Entorani. I'm screwed up, stuck in nowhere space Torani. A knight who can't be a prince and doesn't know how to be a knight. Me. And what I want is to apologize."

Serana buried her face in her hands. "Torani, what the fuck?" At least she used his knight's name. Progress? She threw her hands down. "How do you manage to keep making even worse decisions?!"

"Does it make a difference at this point?"

"I guess not." She leaned against her bed to stare at the ceiling. A shrug as she shook her head. "The apology you didn't give is not accepted, by the way."

"I am sorry. I hated everything I said to you. But it's what Zehra wanted."

"Oh, so she was hiding under you and whispering into your ear?"