Elurra was distraught. She watched Lady Kanto brush Terrin’s face as she tilted her chin upward. They were so close. Terrin smiled at her and uttered something, which earned him a pout. Then he leaned in. Elurra turned away and slumped against the wall. Tears blurred her vision, and she covered her mouth to suppress a sob.

Why does this hurt? Terrin can do whatever he wants. Why do you care?

Her emotions were irrational. Jealousy and betrayal coiled around her heart like a two-headed serpent. She stumbled away from the scene, unsure of what to do. The importance of the day felt meaningless without Terrin to celebrate with her. She needed to escape. She closed her eyes and pictured the first hallway she could think of.

“Ťo nobi miş.”

As soon as she appeared in the empty corridor, she lost the strength to stand and collapsed against the wall. She slid to the floor slowly. Tears built up behind her eyelids and spilled down her cheeks. Lira’s declaration echoed in her mind, and Elurra bitterly realized the queen had gotten what she wanted.

I am tired of losing Terrin.

Unexpectedly, all the horrid deaths she’d witnessed flashed through her mind. She remembered every detail of her parents’ murders like it had happened moments before. She remembered the nameless soldier aging to death at Garthu Vore, Kai’s corpse, Zavier’s last moments, and the horrible troll dangling her above its boiling pot. But the worst was Ramer’s violent end, and the assassin dragging himself forward as he slowly bled out. Every sorrow, anxiety, doubt, and misery exploded inside her. Her tears soaked her dress, and her quiet weeping turned into violent sobbing as she slammed her fists against the stone wall.

“Why didn’t you listen to me?” she asked the ceiling though her tears, imagining her parents could hear her. “I told you what would happen! You promised me you would not leave me alone! You promised…”

Her heart felt like it was trying to rip itself out of her chest. She rested her head against the wall and watched her tears form a small puddle on the ground.

“Princess?” Someone knelt in front of her and brushed her matted blonde hair away from her face. “Why are you crying?”

She covered her face in shame, her sobs attacking her fitfully.

“Don’t look at me,” she begged, her occasional whimpers beyond her control.

Without a word, the mystery person scooped her into his arms and carried her into the room she was crying beside. She pressed her face into his chest, and her tears quickly soaked his shoulder. He rocked her gently and muttered soothing words until she ran out of tears, and her whimpers stopped. She let go of him and wiped her face.

“I apologize.”

Elurra knew what she’d done. The first hallway she thought of was Garen’s. Her tantrum happened right outside his door.

“Did someone hurt you? Are you okay?”

“I am fine.”

She realized she was still sitting on his lap and quickly moved. He gave her a dubious look.

“Please tell me.”

Elurra felt heat rise to her cheeks, but she doubted he noticed over her blotchy appearance.

“You would not understand,” she replied.

She didn’t want to lose herself again and talking about it would send her over the edge. She wanted to escape and hide her embarrassment. She couldn’t believe she’d acted in such a childish manner.

“Try me. I am a very good listener,” Garen persisted.

She covered her face and shook her head. He rested a hand on her back and rubbed it gently.

Maybe he is right, she told herself. But what should I say? I do not fully understand what is wrong with me. Am I just terrified of being alone again?

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Recalling the weeks of loneliness on her trek to Amora sent pangs of dread down her spine. She never wanted to experience such consuming isolation again.

“Do you really want to know?”

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and hugged her. “I want to be here for you.”

Just as she decided to vocalize her emotions, the door swung open. Elurra’s breath caught in her throat as Terrin charged in, panting heavily. Garen stood up and hastily bowed.

“Prince Terrin, what brings you here?”

Terrin ignored him and focused on Elurra. His determined expression melted when he observed her red-rimmed eyes and disheveled hair. He took a step forward, then hesitated.

“Snow, I know what you saw, but if you hear me out, I can explain.”

His words jumbled together in a confused mess in his haste to apologize. Garen’s expression hardened, and he shifted to stand in front of Elurra protectively.

“You are the one who upset her?”

His deference to Terrin’s rank vanished in an instant. The prince scowled at him.

“Move, Lord Almasi. This is none of your concern.”

“I found her outside my door in a state of hysteria, and now I learn you were the one who caused her distress. I believe that makes this my business.”

“I said it is none of your concern, Lord Almasi. Get out of the way, or I will have you removed,” Terrin threatened, his temper rising.

“What are you going to do, set the guards on me? Who do you think they will listen to? I have been giving orders around here much longer than you have, and there is a lot of skepticism about the validity of your claim to the throne.”

“It does not matter what you think, Lord Garen. In the end, Lira recognizes I am her son; therefore, your skepticism is irrelevant. I will give you one more chance. Step aside.”

Garen sneered. “I do not have to do anything you say, especially with regards to Princess Elurra.”

“I beg to differ. You have to do everything I say, especially with regards to my princess.”

“She is your princess now?” Garen asked sarcastically.

“She has always been mine.”

“Who do you think supported her the last few weeks?”

“Are you telling me you think you have replaced me just because I was gone for a short while?” Terrin snapped, his voice dripping with contempt.

“Who did she turn to when she was in distress?”

Terrin’s nostrils flared as he took a threatening step forward.

“Thank you, Lord Almasi, but your services are not needed. I appreciate your concern for Princess Elurra, but I can take care of her from now on. Please distance yourself from her in the future,” Terrin said mockingly as he motioned toward the door.

“Are you trying to kick me out of my own room? You must be insane. I am not going anywhere, and I am not leaving the princess in your most incapable hands!”

“Enough!” Elurra screamed, planting herself between the two bickering men. She glared at each in turn and made them look down in discomfort.

“I am a person, so stop arguing over me like I am an animal or a potted plant! Neither of you have a claim on me,” she said, glancing at Garen. “Nor can anyone order who can and cannot see me.” She looked back over at Terrin. “That is my choice! I will not be treated like a pet!”

“Elurra, I think you are overreacting a bit,” Terrin said timidly.

Elurra spun on him, her rage still burning strong.

“Overreacting? Of all the men in this castle, why do you care who I spend time with, and what gives you the right to tell anyone I am ‘your’ princess? Lady Kanto seems to be your recent prize, after all. It is a wonder you did not suffocate in her perfume considering how intimate you two were getting downstairs.”

“That was a misunderstanding! I do not care for her in the slightest.”

“How could she misunderstand something like that?” Garen cut in, startling them.

“Be quiet, Garen,” Elurra hissed, her eyes burning him like live coals.

He flinched and scooted toward the door. “You know what? You two look like you have a lot to talk about. I will leave you to it.”

He slipped out into the hallway and closed the door to avoid Elurra’s wrath. She turned back to Terrin.

“What do you mean it was a misunderstanding? That appeared pretty affectionate considering you claim to be disinterested.”

“It was a bet. Lira’s adviser dared me to charm her. It is a game we have been playing while I was away.”

Terrin realized his defense sounded weak the moment he said it. She stared at him blankly, her sapphire eyes indignant.

“It was a bet,” she repeated disparagingly. “You are telling me that not only were you were playing with Lady Kanto’s feelings simply because you could, but you have also been stringing girls along for weeks for your own amusement?”

“Well, no…I mean yes, but not exactly.”

Elurra wasn’t finished. “Are you keeping a tally, Your Majesty? How many girls are you trying to hurt? Was I on your list? I hope I have helped you reach your goal, Your Highness.”

“It was not like that!” he sputtered sheepishly.

“How was it, then?”

“The village girls would not leave me alone! They swarmed me and assaulted me with questions. I did not know how to handle it, so I asked Olfe. He pointed out it was natural due to my rank and started making bets to encourage me to embrace their affections.”

His explanation stoked her outrage.

“You are telling me it is perfectly acceptable to take advantage of the feelings of others because you are a prince?”

“That is not what I am saying! I just get a lot of female attention, and I did not know how to brush it off.”

“When did it become excusable to woo every female you encountered and play with their emotions because you are royalty? Why are you justified to treat people like possessions or toys?”

“Why don’t you tell me?” he spat.