“I need some peace and quiet,” I say out loud.

It’s been nearly a month since my engagement to Gai was confirmed. He’s been living in my room ever since. When I petitioned to get him vacated until the actual wedding, I was sufficiently denied by my father.

“Give in” were his final words on the subject.

I did not get any help on that front.

Going to Mother would be pointless.

So I’m stuck with Gai in my room.

I don’t hate the guy; far from it. He’s essentially my savior at this point. If I were still Felix, there wouldn’t be a problem. We’d be college roommates, basically. But as Scarlet, our relationship is more complicated.

In a year, we’ll be married, sadly. Gai’s family will travel down here. Food and drink are being purchased from abroad. Letters will soon be sent out across the country to important people. It’s an ordeal that I honestly wish would go by quicker. This awkward limbo period is killing me.

Even if the wedding is a sham, I still have to marry a dude. Which, you know, that’s awesome. I’ve gone from being a thirty year old male lawyer working and living in New York to reincarnating as a red haired girl, a daughter of a baron, with powers I got from eating a strange fruit called a Divine Treat.

This marriage is entirely political, one of my father’s creation. At my engagement party, a kind prince and a baron’s drunken son dueled for my hand in marriage. The latter won, that being Gai. I went from being treated as a genius blessed by the Gods gifted with knowledge and tutoring in both combat and history to some political card for my current father to play.

What a horrifying summary of the last two decades of my life.

If Gai weren’t, surprisingly, a good person underneath his alcoholic antics, I’d have already fled my home or killed him in defense of my chastity. Men just aren’t my ideal choice for obvious reasons. Thankfully, I have a deal with Gai. It provides me some leeway in this relationship and a pathway out into the real world.

For the time being, Gai and I are stuck here at my father’s estate.

At least he’s upheld his end on one of our deals. Gai only drinks when he’s with friends. It’s enough to keep him satisfied, but he was very annoying the first two weeks. He kept complaining how “boring” it was to be sober and kept probing me to go out with him.

It took a bit, but he became more level-headed. He exercises a lot more now than before with both me and Nigel, though Nigel especially since they’re dead even in terms of combat ability. They’ve become friends thanks to that. I also find him reading a lot more than I thought he would.

I’m just glad he’s found other things to occupy his mind. Compared to before, though, it’s been a weird contrast.

Still…he’s never not around me.

When I wake up, he’s there. When I go to sleep, he’s there. When I go to the library, he eventually comes to find me. When I exercise, he copies what I do and tries to beat me. It’s sort of been like adopting a puppy instead of a fiancé.

I don’t entirely dislike it. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t improve the loneliness forced upon me these past few years. Sure, I have Remi, Alexander, and Nigel, but they have full-time jobs. They are my closest companions in this world, but they can only be around me when the opportunity presents itself. Sometimes, I see them a few times a week. Others, I don’t see them even once.

The inconsistent emptiness bothered me. Now that Gai’s here, admittedly, I don’t feel the same way anymore.

I can’t say Gai and I are really friends due to the nature of our interactions. There have been times when, late at night, he’ll try to seduce me. I’ve sadly gotten used to the advances. When he fails, he either goes to sleep or escapes into town. What he does in town is up to him. I’m assuming he doesn’t want to sleep with blue balls. I don’t blame him. They sucked in my past life, but that pain will not be eased in my room or any room in which I am present.

Basically, it’s rare nowadays for me to get time away from Gai.

Today, I woke up before him. When I came back to my room after working out, he was long gone. I haven’t seen him since.

All I want to do is eat a pleasant meal by my pond, read the new novel I bought in town with Remi, and maybe nap in the grass. That’s it. This is the only thing I desire. I haven’t been able to go to my pond in a while, not with Gai around. It’s my one place away from him, from all this royal bullshit.

I sneak past the foliage to the break in the castle wall. A bag sits upon my back. In it is my bamboo lunch box, water bottle, novel, and towel to dry myself off. My body easily slips past the crack until I’m on the other side amongst the trees.

A deep breath of air enters my lungs. I force it out after five long seconds. “Freedom!” I cry into the sky before jogging in the direction of my refuge.

The forest seems to welcome me as I trot through its embrace.

As I near my spot in the woods, I hear voices.

My eyes twitch.

“—so I was able to convince her sister to join in,” dramatizes Gai’s voice.

“Hahahaha! You’re a riot, man!” Alexander’s voice complements him.

I break through the forest into my clearing. A frown sticks to my face. I glare immediately into the pond.

Alexander is the first one to notice me. “Hey! What are you doing here?! You come to drink?!”

Gai turns to me upon hearing Alexander talk. His eyebrows raise for a moment. His face is flushed with drink. He lazily smiles in my direction. “I didn’t know about this place! You should have shown me sooner! It’s relaxing!”

“Yeah, it is,” I mutter. My arms cross over my chest as I stare at the two men in the pond.

The place stinks of drink. A literal barrel of beer stands near the edge of the pond by the guys. Both Alexander and Gai have a mug sitting next to them. Laying nearby each guy is a pile of clothes. Their nude bodies, distorted by the water, recline lazily against the edge of the pond.

“At least he’s drinking with a friend,” I whisper as I stare daggers into the side of Gai’s face.

“You come to drink?!” asks Alexander again.

“No, I came here to read and eat lunch in peace,” I reply honestly. I shoot a glare at Alexander. “Don’t you have work? I understand Gai. He’s a royal bum with no responsibilities, so he doesn’t have shit to do. But you? Does Nigel know you’re here?”

“I’m guarding Gai as he goes into town.”

“You’re not in town.”

Alexander grabs the mug sitting nearby. He drains it in seconds. “We were in town. Now we’re not. I wasn’t told to stop guarding him afterward. He still needs me. Here I am.”

“What did you need in town?” I ask of Gai.

“I wanted to get you something nice,” replies Gai.

My eyebrow twitches since I’m sure that’s a lie. “Why?”

“Do I have to have a reason to buy something for my fiancé?”

“It won’t get you any if that’s why you really did it.”

Gai sighs. “Not even gifts? Damn, I’m running out of ideas.” His head dips down until he’s sadly looking into the water.

“Aren’t you two engaged?” Alexander’s nose scrunches up. “Just do it already, shit. Just because you’re faking the whole marriage doesn’t mean you can’t screw for real.”

Oh, the bluntness of drunk men. How crude.

“Scarlet does not wish to partake in that kind of activity.” Gai chuckles. “I’m a romantic. If I can’t get it willingly, I don’t want it.”

“You’d be careful to take note, Alexander,” I stress coldly.

“I wasn’t saying just do it even if you don’t want to! Just, like, force the issue a little more. I dunno,” explains Alexander nervously.

I close my eyes. “Whatever pervert.”

“She calls you that, too?” Gai asks Alexander.

“Sadly.”

“Does she call everyone that?”

“Not Nigel.”

“He must be a ‘proper’ man. The bastard,” scoffs Gai.

“I guess,” mutters Alexander.

Right. Awesome. This has been fun.

“Well, you two have a swell time naked together.” I turn on my heel to leave. “Cause that isn’t weird,” I whisper to myself.

“What? You’re not going to stay? You just got here!” complains Gai.

“To be alone. I wanted to be alone. I won’t be alone if I stay. I came here to rest in peace in the water,” I explain as I turn back to the men in the pond.

“We’ll be quiet,” says Alexander.

“I really, really doubt that.”

“Come ooooon! Live a little!” Gai beckons me over.

I frown. My cheeks puff out.

If I were Felix, with no hesitation, I’d be hanging out with them. We’d get drunk, talk shit, and have a great time. I don’t deny that that’s appealing, but I can’t do that anymore.

If it were Remi, yeah, I’d go in. But Gai and Alexander? Well…I don’t particularly care, but no normal girl would willingly go into the water with them. She’d have to either be a whore or an uncaring moron.

I mean…I wouldn’t mind drinking all afternoon in the pond…listening to dirty jokes and talking shit…

But I can’t.

I’ve been in the body of a woman for over eighteen years now. I’d like to think I have a good handle on things at this point. Since dying and coming to these lands, I’ve come to rationalize two concepts.

One, my brain is influenced by my former male life. I’m constantly put in situations that confuse others because they are outside the realm of thought for your average woman. As such, I’m an oddity. Rightly so.

Two, ignoring reality is detrimental to a sane existence. I make compromises. I wear dresses and skirts. I know how to apply makeup. I was taught to sow for some fucking reason. I’ve had many, many periods for fuck’s sake. They’re more manageable since I ate a Divine Treat, but still suck. I can’t say I’m just a dude in a different body with a straight face anymore.

As such, my mind and my reality are always at war. It leaves me utterly confused, and I hate it. Sometimes, I wish I’d wake up as a man again or completely forgetting I was a guy at all. I don’t care which at this point.

Either would make my life so much easier.

“I’m good, I think,” I meekly relay back to them.

“Why are you being such a bummer? We drink together all the time!” whines Gai.

“This is different.”

“How so?”

“Do I really have to explain it?” I point down at them in the water. “You’re both naked. I’m not getting in with my clothes on. You are both men. We don’t have the same bodies. And, no offense, you two are some of the most sexually explicit people I have ever met. I know nothing will happen to me if I get in the water, but a light itch in my brain is still telling me to run away from you two for my own safety.”

“Is that all?” Gai drones. He seems bored. His hands gesture towards me. “Seen it.”

I feel my cheeks burn red against my will. “Sure, but he hasn’t!” I point at Alexander.

Gai slaps his hands over Alexander’s eyes. “There. Now he can’t. Stop being fucking boring.”

“Hey! I want to, though!” Alexander decries the action immediately. “Wait, you’ve seen it, but you haven’t done anything!?”

“It makes sleeping next to her so much worse,” admits Gai. “She’s unbelievably hot, it’s insane. It takes everything I have not to grab her by the hair and put my—”

“Shut up!” My face burns red. I point at Gai’s hand currently covering Alexander’s face. “And that doesn’t fix anything! Your hand will eventually get tired. Besides, I don’t really want you to see me either, even if you’ve seen me naked before,” I complain without looking Gai in the eyes.

“Fine. Jump in with your clothes on.”

“No.”

“Strip and jump in.”

“No.”

“Then what do you want to do?”

“Leave.”

“No, you don’t.”

“You’re right. I want you two to leave.”

“Harsh.” Gai mellows. His hands are still over Alexander’s eyes. “Okay. If we both put on blindfolds until you’re in the water, will that make you feel better? I know you’re trying you’re best to act like a good girl, but deep down, you want to let loose. You’re not as stuck up as you pretend to be, love.”

My head droops in shame at being read so easily.

Honestly, drinking in the water and hanging out sounds better than what I was planning on doing. I can’t say it, but that’s how I really feel. My morning training with Master Talbert was cancelled at the last moment. I can only read for so long before getting bored. There are no TVs, video games, or music I could suddenly use to fill my time. It’s not like I’m allowed to have a job. I can only read for so long.

If I don’t do this, what will I do? Go back to bed? Nap in the middle of the afternoon? That’s pathetic.

Dammit.

Okay. Luckily, my underwear is dark today, so I don’t have to go in fully naked. Still, even if I agree, then I’m nearly naked in a pond with two guys. I’d judge any girl harshly if I saw that, even if she didn’t do anything with them.

Then again, that’s the same as admitting I’m fully a girl and that Felix doesn’t matter, which I’m unwilling to do.

Dammit, I hate having to think about this shit!

Every terrible moment in this life has come from Felix and Scarlet battling for control in my head. Shit, I hate it. The third-person personification has only gotten worse since the engagement ball. It was a coping mechanism at first, now I don’t really know who “I” am most of the time.

Scarlet wouldn’t get into the water. I’m in her body. She’s the one in control of phase two from a physical standpoint, so…

To hell with that!

I’m still Felix, sometimes, dammit! Since when did I start falling into this feminine role so easily?! I am a man, dammit! I mean, I’m not anymore, but I still am!

Gods, I hate this!

Ugh, perhaps I’m overthinking things. I’m not afraid of them. They’re basically harmless. I’m only saying “no” because I feel like that’s the correct answer, but I also don’t really care because I don’t fully accept my womanhood all the way. The only thing holding me back are my tits and box.

Even then, why do I care? This body doesn’t even feel like mine. Why should I care if someone ogles it? Gai’s already seen me naked. If I’m underwater, Alexander will only see a distorted version revealing much without revealing anything at all. Kind of.

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

Screw it! Scarlet won’t ruin my day with her bullshit! To hell with her! I capitulate to her all the time! It’s time Felix had a turn to exist!

“Maybe,” I allow after some minutes pass. “But you have to pour me a drink ahead of time.”

Gai obliges. For a moment, he removes his hand from Alexander’s eyes. Gai grabs a knocked-over mug from the ground, dunks it in the water to clean it, then gets out of the pond to get me a refill from the barrel.

My mouth gapes in horror.

“Better get a refill, too,” assesses Alexander. He, too, rises from the pond, stepping onto the bank with utter ease.

I quickly turn away. “Warn me next time!”

“Huh?” They question in unison.

“I don’t want to see that!”

Why do I care?! I’ve seen a dick before! I had one! Dammit! I’m such a fucking girl! Be a man, Scarlet! Stop letting reality influence you so much. Resist! Try!

“Oh.” Gai recognizes what I’m talking about. “Wow, you are a prude.”

Alexander laughs. “Still saw them though.”

“Don’t laugh,” I groan. “You shouldn’t.”

“Why not?”

Without turning around, I point back. “Because Gai’s makes yours look puny. And Gai, yours will absolutely never be allowed to touch me. Ever. Never ever for the love of the Gods. No!”

My legs hurt just from the thought even though “that” was never going to happen to begin with.

“What?!” Alexander curses. “It’s not that small. You’ve got to be—OH SHIT! How the fuck do you walk, dude?!”

“Why are you looking?” Gai deadpans. “And haven’t you already seen it, love?”

“You’ve always been wearing underwear or been under a sheet!” I say.

“Oh, so you’ve noticed that you haven’t noticed? Nice! You want a closer look? Maybe feel it with your ha—”

“GET BACK IN THE WATER!”

“How else am I supposed to get your drink, huh?!”

“Then do it quicker and stop talking!”

Alexander chuckles. “You bicker like an old married couple.”

“Shut up!” Gai and I shout at him.

The sound of splashing soon alerts me that they’re back in the water.

My face scrunches with worry.

Really, why did that embarrass me? I’ve had one before. Longer than I haven’t. What the hell is wrong with…

I sigh.

There’s nothing wrong with me. I keep grappling with my current body, how my perspective has changed because of my upbringing, even though there’s nothing wrong with it. I have for years. Anyone would in my shoes.

I’m a woman in this life. I know that. I feel that. Everything I am is feminine now except for the experiences of my previous life. And the fact that I can hurt people with swords if need be. This body is part of my reality, even if I don’t want it to be.

There is no stigma for me being flustered by men. It’s normal in this life. It’s when my masculine past bleeds into this one that things seem confusing…

Why do I have to have my memories?

I wish I could forget.

No, I don’t believe that. I’m as gifted as I am because of my past. I wouldn’t be the brilliant fighter I am without Felix, nor have the intellect that’s made me so revered. My past is my cheat code. It makes me special, and I am nothing without it.

Even knowing all of this, some mornings, I still hope I’ll suddenly wake up and be a male again or suddenly rationalize that my past life “must have been a dream.” It’s in those moments where the flesh covering my body feels fake.

Even now, an odd look in the mirror will startle me. The body. The hair. The height. The hormones. What is expected of me. The glances of strangers. Inconsistent, confusing sources of attraction. Societal standards.

This life is better than my last. There have been issues, but they don’t make me want to die. They’re manageable. I have friends. I have powers.

Then again, I get periods. Feminine hygiene products are not where I would want them to be. Most guys look at me like fuckable meat. I’ve got giant boobs. I’m short. I’m degraded because of my sex. Maids constantly remove my body hair so that I remain “feminine.” I’m required to have long hair that takes forever to manage. If I ever decide to say “fuck it” and have sex with a guy, there’s a risk I could get pregnant. Plus, I have random cold spells where everything feels freezing for no reason.

Gods, I really do need that drink.

“Why can’t I be normal?” I mutter quietly.

“What?” inquires Alexander.

“Nothing.” I turn around, thus confirming they’re in the water. “Screw it. You two aren’t going to ruin my morning. I’m going to blindfold you, grab a drink, and enjoy this beautiful day.”

Two dark tendrils spawn out of my back. They’re smokey, black as night. They lurch forward until they’re directly in front of both of their faces.

“Ahhhh!” Gai sounds impressed.

“It’s better than leaving the control up to you guys,” I say.

“That’s fair,” Alexander admits. “I was probably going to peek.”

“And I probably would have let him,” adds Gai.

“Exactly!” I shout.

Quickly, I undress, placing my clothes in a neat pile by the edge of the pond. My bag sits on top to keep them from moving. I then wrap my hair into a bun.

“Good job on the black underwear,” I mutter as I stare at the thin garments hugging tight to my body.

I slowly step into the cool water until I’m completely submerged beneath the neck. Looking down, the water obscures my shape.

I release my gift, freeing up Alexander and Gai’s vision.

Gai looks over at me. “Why are you so far away?”

I’m at the opposite end of the pool from them. There’s a good twelve feet of distance between the guys and me.

“That was a dumb question,” I answer. “Ground rules! If either of you voluntarily moves across the halfway point of the pool without just cause—” Six dark tendrils, my max, flow from out my back menacingly into the air. “—I’ll react poorly and without hesitation.”

“Noted,” gulps Alexander.

“What about your drink?” Gai smiles. He holds the third mug he poured for me in his hand mockingly.

One of my tendrils lashes out. It hooks the drink and drags it towards me, much to Gai’s dismay.

“Dammit.”

I sip the beer. “How unlucky for you.”

“You know, I rarely see you use your light gifts,” notes Gai.

“So?”

“So? It’s considered the strongest Typical gift. It’s better than most Admix abilities. Why do you mostly use your dark gifts instead?”

“She doesn’t have the same level of control,” Alexander answers for me.

“Really?” Gai’s brow knits together. “Your captain didn’t give you proper instruction or illicit a fellow light user to teach you?”

“Father forbade me from receiving formal instructions in my gifts or entering the army,” I relay as I drink. “I believe he was afraid that, if I got good enough, he’d have less reason for me to marry as opposed to being a soldier or the like.”

“You’re self-taught, and you can do so much?” ponders Gai, impressed.

“We helped her out,” states Alexander. “Talbert’s a dark user, so he gave her tips during practices. It’s why she’s better with them than the other gift, probably. She wasn’t totally in the dark. Pun intended.”

“Ahhh! Makes sense. But why the trouble with light gifts and not dark gifts?”

“I don’t know how to explain that,” I answer truthfully. “I mean, I can control my light powers, just not to the same level as my dark ones. I can fight someone with dark abilities without killing them. I cannot say the same about my light gifts beyond enhancing my physical stats.”

“How do you mean?” implores Gai.

I pull my arm out of the water. My palm aims at a tree. Light energy charges throughout my hand.

I release it.

A beam of concentrated light violates the tree. It blows the bark apart, sending the mass tumbling to the earth.

“Light abilities enhance the body beyond human capabilities, but it is also a purely destructive power more akin to what Nigel can do, just on a less dramatic scale. Plus, it’s not as useful as dark gifts if I’m being honest. Look what I can do with these,” I say as I allow a tendril to wave in the air. “Beyond that, I can create mist and change the dark matter’s shape. It’s more suited to me.”

Gai chuckles. “That’s funny.”

“What is?”

“In your hands, the light kills, and the darkness saves.”

I frown. “Kind of.”

“Fantastic.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” Alexander says as he stares into the water.

“What are you looking at?” I ask. My body shivers as they stare in my direction.

“The water’s pretty clear, you know,” notes Alexander.

My face tints red. “So? Not that clear! You’re both naked, but I can’t really see anything! You’re like outlines! I look the same!”

“Ah, you can’t blame us. You are a woman worth looking at,” admires Gai. He tilts his mug at me like he’s complimenting me as a dopey, drunken smile overtakes his face.

Oh, screw it!

I stand up entirely out of the water. “There! See!” I do a spin before crashing back into the liquid. My arms lay over my chest. “Get over yourselves already!”

Gai and Alexander stare unblinkingly at me. It’s clear they were not expecting that.

“What?” I ask in a curt tone. My tongue slides nervously over the top of my lip.

Alexander raises his hand. “One more time please? I wasn’t prepared.”

Energy fills my core. I release it as a dark mist that instantly shades the entire pool black. All I do is let unformed dark energy free itself from my pores. Since it requires hardly any control, there’s barely any strain on my core.

“Now we’re all equally hidden,” I say.

Gai and Alexander sigh.

•

After some drinks, I ease up. My ability to keep up the mist ends at roughly an hour, but we stay in the pond for three.

If I were a college girl back on Earth, I’d have gotten drugged. I realize that. I’m not rational like I should be. I don’t accept who I am, and it makes me stupid.

At around the hour-and-a-half mark, I was so drunk that I ended up moving to the side where Alexander and Gai were simply because I couldn’t hear them that well. About forty minutes after that, we were all arm-in-arm in the water singing folk songs as we drank. My mind forgot I was Scarlet for the most part and let the Felix part flourish for once. That usually happens when I drink anyways.

Luckily, even though their jokes and attitudes are lewd, Alexander and Gai are nice. Sure, maybe they made me refill everyone’s mugs so that I’d have to get out of the water multiple times. Maybe that happened because I was so drunk that I let my guard down. Maybe. Maybe.

Maybe…

At the three-hour mark, Alexander essentially passed out.

“The poor, poor baby,” I say as I slap his face. It leans vacantly against the pond’s bank.

Gai snickers. “We should get his ass back to the castle.”

“We should leave him here while we go back to the castle,” I joke.

“And do what?” Gai places his hand on my right thigh below the water. He pulls me closer to him until our skin is touching.

I ‘boop’ his nose. “Help out your friend first, and we’ll see,” I lie.

Gai immediately assumes control of the situation. The air of intoxication coming off of him nearly disappears. He leaps to the shore, drags Alexander out of the water, and slaps his face. “Wake up! Time to go!”

Oh my Gods, that was too quick a reaction.

I lean my chin against the pond’s bank. “I don’t think that will work. He’s out. We’ve got to put his clothes on him and carry him back.”

“We? You do it,” Gai orders me.

“You want your fiancé to dress another man? Who knows what I might touch!?”

“Ah, damn. Well, I don’t want to do it.”

“Oh well. Tough.”

Gai groans.

Twenty minutes later, we’re all dressed and ready to head back to the castle. Gai carries Alexander on his back while I casually follow them from behind. My steps are chipper. I nearly skip. But I’m drunk, so I’m overly happy. It’s better to get drunk around friends than to do it by yourself in a bar. That sure used to suck. It’s another reason why I gave Gai that “clause.” Besides, it’s easier to be “me” when I’m intoxicated cause I don’t think as much when I am.

Maybe I should just be drunk all the time…

No, no that wouldn’t be good. One alcoholic in the group is enough.

“How do you propose we get him through the gap?” Gai asks as we arrive at the wall.

A black tendril exudes from my back. I wrap it around Alexander then toss him over the wall. The sound of crushing foliage and a groan indicates that he’s still alive.

Gai cannot help but laugh. “Hahaha! Shit, you’re an asshole sometimes!”

“I try,” I squeal as I squeeze through the gap. Gai follows behind me.

Alexander’s passed-out body remains within a now smushed bush. Gai and I stand over him contemplating what to do next.

“He’s inside the walls now. We could leave him.”

“Wouldn’t you feel bad?” asks Gai.

“I would tomorrow. Not today.”

“Then we should do something now, shouldn’t we?”

“I gueeeeeeess.”

“Cool.” Gai points down at Alexander before walking away. “Feel free to pick him up.”

“Why me?!”

“You tossed him over the wall like it was nothing while my back stings from carrying his monstrous ass here for the past twenty minutes.”

I grumble in acceptance as a tendril wraps around Alexander. He is lifted gently in the air to follow behind me as the three of us head back to the castle.

Gai matches my stride. We move through the gardens. Bees and squirrels watch us pass. There’s a haze in the atmosphere. Moist air dampens my skin. Sweat drips from my brow. The humidity is uncomfortable. In a world without air conditioning, it’s even worse. Modern clothes and some similar products, but not advanced technology. Such a weird world.

“Were you kidding before?” Gai suddenly asks.

“Huh?”

Gai saunters closer. “About, you know…” He puts a hand on the edge of my hip.

“You know? I don’t know,” I lie. “What are you talking about?”

“Do I need to be vulgar, or are you screwing with me?”

I smile up at him. “Sorry!”

Gai groans. “It’s fine. I’ll go into town later. Someone there might actually like me,” he says, clearly annoyed but holding it in.

“Do what you must.”

“Guess this is what happens when you get into a kind-of sham wedding.”

“I’m the best fiancé you could ever have. What are you talking about?”

“You’re the weirdest fiancé I could ever have,” Gai corrects. “Putting aside that this whole thing is a scam, you actively encourage me to sleep with other women. Even now, for some reason, you’ve developed no interest in me even though we sleep next to each other every night. When we hang out, it’s like being with another guy. Once you drink, that is. It’s very odd. I don’t hate it. Still, I’ve known you for a month. I’d have expected a little more to happen even if our relationship is more of a temporary alliance than a pure romance.”

“Like you said, we share a bed together.”

“Yeah, and there’s a giant wall of pillows between us.”

“I don’t like touching people when I sleep,” I react hastily.

“Yes. That’s it. Clearly.” Gai isn’t persuaded by my fib. “It’s fine. You’ll fall in love with me eventually.”

I yawn. “Is that a fact?”

“Pretty much.”

We round the corner and nearly run into Master Talbert. Gai and I freeze. Alexander remains hovering in the air behind us wrapped in my dark tendril.

“Good afternoon.” Master Talbert stares at me. His eyes dart away towards Gai and Alexander. “I did not realize you would be out with friends today. You usually escape into the forest on afternoons like these.”

I flinch. “I-I don’t do that.” A nervous laugh leaves my throat in an attempt to cover up the situation.

Master Talbert rolls his eyes. “But of course.” His face turns serious. “No more of this.”

“Huh?” I blink.

“You must remain within the castle for the time being. Always remain in sight of guards.”

Master Talbert seems almost hesitant giving the orders.

“Why?” Gai asks for me.

Master Talbert stares at Gai and me for a moment before speaking, “We’ve had some...unsightly deaths occur amongst young women in the territory. All between the ages of sixteen to twenty. All from noble and merchant families. I’d like you to be careful in the future.” He pauses. “I’ll alter my personal orders. If you must leave, always have someone with you. Never do so alone. I know that’s already the situation, but I want you to take it seriously now since you have a tendency to wander out when you’re feeling restless.”

“Unsightly deaths? How many?” The inner lawyer in me immediately picks up on the situation. “Is there a consistent pattern besides age? A common cause of death? There must be if you think they’re connected. Just age wouldn’t be enough. How about social status? Are you sure it is only the daughters of nobles and merchants? Could poorer women also be dying, but they’re deaths are being ignored due to their status? What about physical characteristics? Hair color? Height? Any other—”

“Our teams are coordinating here at the castle. Remi is supervising the investigation under my guidance. Be cautious and always have someone with you until told otherwise. Are we clear?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Wish I could get her to comply that easily,” mutters Gai.

I nudge him sharply with my elbow.

“Leave Sir Valtross on the ground, please. You two may do what you wish, but I’m afraid I must reprimand his lax behavior,” asserts Master Talbert.

Gai and I look at each other. We shrug.

I shift my tendril towards Master Talbert. “Have at em.”

Talbert, using his own dark gifts, grabs Alexander from me with a tendril. “Thank you.” He begins walking away. “Now, Sir Valtross, shall we go find Assistant Captain Blair?”

“Valtross? Blair?” Gai mutters to me as we separate from Master Talbert and Alexander.

“Alexander Valtross. Nigel Blair,” I inform Gai. “Remi’s last name is Lam. Mine is Embers. Yours is Regal. My father’s is—”

Gai places a hand over my mouth as we walk. “I get it. Shush.”

I lick his palm.

“If you’re willing to do that, then I have suggestions for other parts of my body.”

I eye Gai evilly.

“Oh, and I’ll go wherever you need me to now that you’ve been scolded,” says Gai. “You want to go into town? We’ll go into town. Back to the pond? We’ll go back to the pond. Just let me know.”

I remove Gai’s hand. “Thank you, I suppose.”

“But you’ll have to start putting out.”

“Never mind.”