What if I lived? ✔️

Welcome Wagon

Hot and sticky. Everything in Hala was hot and sticky. Familiar, yes, but still icky. The sandstone towers of the Vallahan castle were looming, their shadows promising nothing but the endless pain of my past. Yet there was this one thing calling me back still.

The last week I'd been both, frightened and excited to come back. Leaving Myrina in the care of others had been particularly unnerving this time. But still, I dreaded facing Blaise. Though our plan wasn't all that risky, especially with a few of the most powerful beings ever in existence on my side, it depended on me acting as if I had found everything Blaize had been looking for. 

I had avoided Azriel the past days, which hadn't been all that difficult. For some reason that still stung. Apparently, he wasn't even going to try to talk with me. I, especially, should be thankful that he regarded my wish, instead, I was moping like a child.

Callum was striding beside me, the male had been my ride back. On the way to the Night Court it had been important that my way was traceable, for the story to appear real, but coming back didn't have those restrictions. It had taken every ounce of the shifters power to carry me with him, but he'd done it. Spoke to the depth of his power.

"He's in a good mood" Callum hadn't debriefed me, bad sign.

"So I'm getting an audience right away, goody" I needed a bath.

Callum snorted: "Keep talking like that his good mood won't last."

"I've lived so far, haven't I?" I nudged the black-haired male.

"And I'm still curious as to how" we were almost to the gate.

He would take me there, but no farther. Orders, I'm sure.

"Asshole" the insult was more of a nickname by now.

He smirked, bowing dramatically at the waist: "As you were, mistress."

"Say hallo to your better half for me, will you?"

"You're always so nice when it comes to her, almost as if you had manners" Callum turned around, already leaving.

"Maybe that's because she's so much prettier than you" I called after him.

He snickered, but I couldn't see it because the guards were already throwing glances my way. As if I was some intruder. They had to be new, no one looked at a mistress like that if they liked their eyes. I had half a mind to throw them a quiet little smile, which made most males go crazy. Let them try their luck, it'd land them an unmarked grave at best, a cell in the belly of the sun-palace at best.

But, none of them had done anything to suggest they were bad people, except work for Blaise and his Father of course.

"Mistress Aditya for the Crown-Prince" my voice called them to attention.

"Mistress Aditya?" Kraft, the captain of the palace guard strode out of the barracks left of the gate, his cruel voice having the same effect as a bucket of ice water on the guards, "We thought you had prolonged your stay in Prythian."

I regarded the captain with an expression halfway between distaste and arrogance: "Appears the Prince didn't think it a priority to inform you."

The bulky brute planted himself in front of me: "A Mistress should not assume the Prince's motives."

A quiet little smile played on my features: "We both know I'm so much more than just an ordinary mistress. Now stop wasting my time, I have more important matters to attend to."

For a moment he seemed to consider just how much trouble he'd get into for delaying me further, but then he stepped aside, hissing a filthy insult after me