Chapter 12
“Elysande!”
Why do people keep finding me, keep calling out to me, when I’m trying to be alone? I sigh as I spin around, catching a figure running down the long, wide corridor toward me.
“Raef,” I say, surprised.
“Do you have a moment?” He doesn’t look even the slightest bit winded from the jog.
“Yes. What’s wrong?” I ask, but as I take in his expression, I change my question. “I mean… what’s not wrong? Is there good news?”
“They released Daegan,” Raef informs me with a grin.
“That’s… great news.”
“Yeah. I just wanted to thank you. I know you were on his side in the end. Even though he hasn’t… been the best to you.”
I lift an eyebrow.
“Okay, that’s an understatement. He’s not been the best version of himself, I’ll admit. But I’ve known him since we were kids, and he’s not like that. He just cares very passionately about his people and his—” He stops himself.
“His plan?” I ask, folding my arms.
“No.” He shakes his head. “He just cares very passionately about his people, as I said. And about doing the right thing. That’s all. And he doesn’t like anyone who gets in his way.”
“And I’m in his way? How?”
He shrugs. “You’re the daughter of the king who rules over this land so easily because the curse keeps everyone in line for him. You elves sit here in your castle and your village so comfortably while we suffer. So many people suffer.”
I pull my lips into a thin line. I can’t argue with those points.
“And how are your people suffering?” I ask with genuine curiosity. It’s not that I’m calling him a liar, but I don’t know as much about the shifters as I would like, and this could be a chance to learn more. They’re very private and rarely even leave Torrynth.
His face falls, like what he’s about to say physically pains him. “You couldn’t know what it’s like… born to be one thing but having that urge suppressed, unable to act on it.”
“The urge to… shift? To fly?”
He nods, and his eyes are swimming with torment.
Since getting to know him just a little, I’ve only known him to be a happy, smiling person so far.
“Every single day, it’s like there’s something in us begging to be set free, but we can’t release it.
The closest comparison I can think of is…
perhaps to imagine the feeling of missing a limb… I don’t know.”
“Why are you sharing this with me?” I ask, feeling the pain in his words.
“I don’t want you to pity us. We loathe that over anything.
But I want you to know… I think I trust you.
I think you did hear some things, and you’ve yet to repeat it to anyone.
And not only that, but you saved Daegan’s life.
Why? I haven’t worked that out yet. I don’t know what your whole goal is here, but I think maybe we could be friends. Even allies.”
“And what if you’re wrong?” I ask, crossing my arms. My voice doesn’t come out as powerful as I intended it to.
His lip pulls back, his crimson irises gleam. “I don’t think I am.”
“I was also the one who turned him in, you know…”
“Yes, I know. But you thought you saw something else. You reacted. You might have even been in shock.”
I let my eyes flutter shut for a moment, the trauma of last night overtaking me again.
“You haven’t gotten out of this castle much, have you? Seen much of the world?” His voice is gentle, but I get defensive anyway.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that I don’t think you’ve seen much death and violence. If any at all.”
“I’ve been places…” I say softly, averting my gaze.
“Where?”
“None of your business.”
“Okay. Well, I mean what I said. What do you think?”
“What about Daegan? Did he put you up to this?”
His face becomes more serious again. “No. Daegan… he doesn’t know about this. In fact, he’ll probably be extremely upset with me over this conversation. He can be very stubborn, you see…”
I snort. “I never would have guessed.”
“Look, can we just keep this between us for now? I haven’t even talked to him since he’s been released. He was sent to another meeting with your father and his father. And speaking of… I should probably go now.”
“Okay, well…I’ll see you around, I guess?”
He smiles, letting out a chuckle as he turns and jogs off into the distance.
I watch him go, puzzled about the entire interaction and unsure what to do from here.