Mira crawled through the window and landed softly on the floor. She saw Jonen’s shield on the table and let her fingers trail over the worn filigree. She was happy that he hadn’t used this shield during the tournament that day or it would’ve been broken. The look of the orc’s face that attacked him made her jaw angrily clench. The scribbled notes alongside of the shield told of a man trying to find the right words to say. It was not Jonen’s handwriting, so Mira did not bother to read it. She memorized every letter in case it was the only thing left of him she could have.

She sat on Jaspen’s bed and tucked herself into a ball. She wanted to be small and insignificant again. His bed was almost the size of her entire room back in Isaan’s cottage. Jaspen’s entire loft was more than she ever had before the temple took her in. The thought of Vimgraunt made her chest heave in grief.

Pallik was dead. Delpho and the entire village were dead. Tella would never speak to her again. She could never return there. Her entire life was gone the instant she began to enjoy it.

Now, a prophecy threatened to force her into godhood.

Mira sat in the dark room and thought of the few happy days she had before. She remembered Tella giggling as she chased after the chickens. She remembered Pallik begrudgingly tending the fields with her with his awkward laugh. She remembered the village dancing as the sun set beautifully on the field of wheat. She remembered feeling welcomed for the first time in the temple. All of that was taken away from her.

After an hour, the only light came from the street lanterns or the moon itself outside. All of the twinkling stars could not be seen in Hangral. She missed the way they filled the sky. The last time she saw stars like that were on the night of her birthday.

Mira shook in anger. That entire night was orchestrated to make her more comfortable with Bobabano. It seemed their entire relationship was. She no longer believed he cared about her. She could not after hiding something that big from her. No wonder everything with him felt so wrong. She never felt that reserved or empty with Jonen. It was because Bobabano was lying. Jonen wouldn’t lie to her.

“I’m telling you,” Jaspen jingled his keys at the door, “I can afford to fix the shield. Your father would have done it himself, but he’s not here. Lord Em paid me enough to –”

As the door opened, Jaspen saw Mira on his bed and shrieked in fright. Jonen threw him back and stepped into the room. When it was only her, he relaxed.

“How did you get in here? The door was locked!” Jaspen closed the door behind them.

“The window was not. An assassin could have easily entered.”

“Great! Now I need to worry about that,” He lit the oil lantern to light the room, “You couldn’t have waited outside?”

Jonen walked to her. Once he saw the tearstained streaks of makeup on her face, he reached out to her. His thumb traced over the smudges carefully. She grabbed his wrist in her hands and leaned into him.

“What’s wrong?” He whispered, “Are you hurt?”

She shook her head softly and looked into his sapphire eyes. The concern drew her to him. He pulled her up and held her close. She shook in their embrace and tried not to cry.

“It’s okay,” He looked to his brother, “Jaspen, can you get something to wash her face with?”

“I should have some small towels here,” The older brother pulled something from a dresser, “I’ll get one damp.”

“Thank you,” Jonen’s hand rubbed her back, “Do you want to talk about it?”

Mira silently shook her head again and buried it in his chest.

“That’s okay. I’m here now,” He sighed, “I’m sorry if this is my fault.”

“No,” She looked up to him, “It is not your fault.”

Jonen took the damp cloth and started wiping the smeared makeup from her face. It felt nice against the puffy area under her eyes. Jonen didn’t care for the look but tried to keep what was intact alone as he cleared her face.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“I hate to be the one to bring this up,” Jaspen cleared his throat, “But there is only one bed here. I would prefer if –”

“We can leave when I calm down,” She stepped from him, “I’m sorry to impose.”

“Oh no,” He raised his hands defensively, “It’s not imposing, Lady Mira. I just wasn’t–”

“Please, Jaspen,” Her head dipped sadly, “Just… Mira. I am tired of the title.”

“Okay, Mira,” He cleared his throat, “I wasn’t expecting any company this late at night.”

She leaned her head against Jonen’s arm, “Will you be comfortable if we go back to my suite?”

“I will go wherever you need me.”

Mira walked slowly from Jaspen’s room. Jonen didn’t protest and she led him into the street. She let go of his hand when another person walked by, and she raised the hood of her jacket again. He followed closely as they moved further back towards the palace.

“Can you tell me what’s wrong?” Jonen asked after they walked for minutes in silence.

“I… I don’t know how to explain it,” She shook her head, “Can we just be us, tonight?”

“What does that mean? You shouldn’t have to be anyone but you, Mira.”

She relaxed at his words. It was exactly what she wanted. What she needed. Jonen didn’t know and he still wanted to be her friend. That’s all she wanted.

“Thank you.”

Jonen looked at her with his kind, worried eyes. She liked the way he saw her. He didn’t know that she was a Vessel, or that she could even become a goddess. Jonen had always treated her the same as when he first met her.

It didn’t matter who she was when enthralled. It didn’t matter who she was when they traveled to Vimgraunt. It didn’t matter who she was during the Harvest Festival. It didn’t matter who she was in the fight after

All Jonen ever wanted was Mira to be herself. He never treated her differently.

The two made it to the inn Mira’s things were at. The buzz of the dinner at the palace filled the common room and they tried to avoid being recognized. She led him up the stairs and past halls of rooms until they got to the final one. When she opened the door, the number of gifts inside shocked Jonen.

At least a hundred bouquets of flowers were set in brilliant glass and ceramic vases. Boxes of sweets were stacked on the table. A closet full of wrapped gowns and fancy fabrics sat against one wall. Racks of large gemstone necklaces and bracelets lined the dresser tops. The bed was covered in so many exotic furs and fluffy blankets that Jonen couldn’t even see the mattress. He felt a small rush of happiness when he saw the shawl resting against the pillows on the bed. It was lovingly tied with the lily pin just above the knot.

“It seems Bo is a bit showy,” He tried to break the tension, “How is that going?”

“Do you really want to talk about it?” Mira asked coldly.

“No,” The soft sadness in her eyes broke his heart, “I just don’t want to stand in the way of –”

“Jonen. This is a show,” She motioned to the room, “He claims to have feelings for me, but Bobabano is using me. Just like everyone else.”

“I just didn’t want to get in the way if he is what you wanted,” Jonen wrapped his arms around her, “Do you want to talk about what’s upsetting you?”

“No,” She paused, “Maybe. Can you… can you just hold me a little longer? It’s nice.”

“Of course.”

Mira let herself feel weak in his arms. She let herself cry and let him comfort her. He rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head sweetly. She didn’t want to leave his arms. Jonen didn’t pull away or try to move her. He just held her in place until she calmed herself down.

“Do you want to talk about it now?”

“Everyone wants something from me,” She placed her head against his chest, “Things were so much easier when I was a thrall.”

“What do you mean?”

“I miss the ease. I never had to pretend to be something I wasn’t. I never had to follow all these odd rules,” She blinked the tears from her eyes, “All I had to do was follow orders. Nobody cared what I did. I was nothing.”

“And you miss it?”

“Yes,” She shook her head, “At least when I was a thrall, I knew what was needed and what to do. I’ve spent so much time out of sight. Now, it feels like there is a blinding sun on top of me. I can’t take a moment to breathe. I’m little more than a puppet whose strings are pulled to perform.”

“That sounds utterly exhausting. Mira, if it’s me that –”

“No, Jonen,” She rested her forehead against him, “It’s not you. You never treated me differently. Ever since you met me. The only thing that changed was when –”

Her face flushed as she thought of their kiss. It was panicked, but it marked the beginning of her freedom. She wondered if he still felt the same way.

“I do not feel that way when I am with you. If I did, you wouldn’t be here.”

His hands rested around her waist as she took a few moments to breathe and calm herself. He spoke soft, encouraging words to comfort her. The soothing tone of his voice as he consoled her made her feel safe.

“Half of the city thinks I… that I…” Her face heated as she let the words trail off, “I can’t even spend time with my friend without putting you in danger.”

“It shouldn’t matter what they think,” Jonen tilted her chin up, “Besides, you’ve kept me safe enough. I’m a grown man, Mira. I’ve been working on my powers. I can handle it.”

“I didn’t –” She looked away from him, “We haven’t been together, in that way.”

“It doesn’t matter to me. I want you to be happy,” He spoke softly, “Bobabano is taking care of you. He can give you anything you need and anything you want. If you choose to be with him, then –”

“That is what everyone else wants,” She frantically shook her head, “Jonen, I—”

“Yes?” Jonen waited for her to finish the sentence and his heart threatened to leap from his chest.

It calmed him to hear that Bobabano had only boasted about having Mira. It angered him even more that the man never saw what that did to her. He didn’t know what that was doing to Mira. His friend deserved better.

“I don’t want him, Jonen,” Mira ran her fingers through his golden hair and stared deep into his gorgeous blue eyes.