Jovari the Blue

Chapter 19: A Surprise Visitor

Kastali Dun

Merrian shivered, curling in on herself. The winter months were not kind to those living in the dungeons. She tugged her threadbare blanket tighter about her shoulders.

"Here—" Reyr draped the other over her. He must have seen her shivering. She'd refused it the last time he'd offered, mostly out of spite. Now, she was too cold to even form words. She kept her gaze averted, even though she wanted to snap at him, to shove off his offering and ignore it. How dare he show any kindness towards her?! After how he'd treated her.

She was only in this mess because of him—because of his inner circle. She'd agreed to stand in as their imposter queen. There'd been nothing in the fine print about living as a prisoner. Then again, it was her fault for not considering the risks.

She'd believed the queen to be untouchable. Believed that the king's guards would be hellbent on protecting her, that no harm would ever come. Well, she'd been wrong.

About all of it.

Her thoughts jumped to Glenna Surati and some of the other shelter caretakers. What was happening now that the king was deposed, now that a tyrant sat on the throne? Would he still shell out funds for those in need? Or would he tear down every bit of infrastructure meant to help, dooming Dragonwall's citizens?

"Where are you from, originally?" Reyr's voice pulled her from her thoughts. "Here? Or, did you come from somewhere else before?" She didn't answer. "Still giving me the silent treatment, I see."

She clenched her jaw. Part of her wanted to tell him to shut up. The other part, the part that wasn't petty, decided to stay quiet.

"I'm not from Kastali Dun, myself," he said. She exhaled, shutting her eyes and leaning her head back against the stones. Maybe if she couldn't see him, she might ignore him better. "I spent most of my younger days in Fort Squall. My parents were fort leaders there. Didn't come to Kastali Dun until King Talon made me his shield. After...after Gemma died."

Her eyes twitched beneath her lids. She fought the urge to open them and look at him, if only to see his expression. Who was Gemma? Never mind, she didn't care.

"It was..." He exhaled. "Gemma was my mate and losing her broke something inside me."

Okay, maybe she did care, then. Just a little bit. Just a touch.

"I didn't want to go to the capital—after it happened, I mean. I wanted to slink off and lick my wounds. Maybe leave the kingdom altogether. Truthfully, I just wanted to die."

Now she really did care. Her eyes snapped open. The pain in his expression made her heart squeeze involuntarily.

"Talon convinced me to swear an oath, instead." A scoffing laugh fell from his lips. "I thought it might help me forget. Maybe even help me heal. Serving a greater purpose than myself—all that."

"Did it?" The words were out before she could stop them.

"Yes. And no. Gemma was half of my soul. She took that half with her when she died. But...it got easier. Hundreds of years passed. Sometimes I'd feel guilty. A whole day might pass where I didn't think of her. Not once. Then I'd go to bed angry for having been so selfish. For having gotten wrapped up enough to forget her, even if for a little bit."

Mer's chest caved in. "I'm sorry," she found herself saying. "That you lost her. That you were forced to carry on all these years without her."

He huffed. "I don't deserve your apology."

She lifted her shoulder to shrug.

"What about you?" he asked.

This time, she didn't ignore him. "What about me?"