Storm Born Page 0,100

right," he said after several drawn-out moments. "It was wrong of me. I'm sorry. I thought I was protecting you."

I gave a harsh laugh that bordered dangerously on being a sob. "Yeah. Everyone wants to protect me lately. My parents did too. You guys think if I don't hear bad things, then they won't exist anymore. But you know what? They do still exist, and I do end up hearing them. And I wish to God that I could have heard them from the people I love first."

I turned and started walking away. Kiyo grabbed my shoulder. I tried to tug out of his grasp.

"Don't touch me," I warned. "We're done here."

"What are you saying?"

"What do you think? You think I'm going to smile and forgive all this? I can barely forgive my parents, and I've known them my whole life. I've barely known you for a month. That doesn't really count for much."

He flinched. The hand on my shoulder dropped.

"I see," he said stiffly, face darkening. "Then I guess we are done here."

"Yeah."

We stood staring at each other, and where heat once had smoldered between us, only a lonely chasm remained. I turned on my heels and stormed across the room without even knowing where I went. Eager men approached me, but I brushed past them all, apparently showing the arrogance Shaya had said was expected of me. I just couldn't face them right now.

It was too much. All of it. The crazy propositions. My so-called legacy. Aeson and Jasmine. Maiwenn and Kiyo.

Oh, God, Kiyo. Why had he done this to me? I'd tried to write him off after our first night together, and he'd made me care about him again. Now it only hurt twice as much. The words from last night came back to me.

You're mine.

Apparently not.

I stopped in the middle of the crowded ballroom floor with no clue where I was going. I'd gotten disoriented somehow and forgotten where the exit was. The throne was over there, so that meant -

"Yo, Odile. Some party, huh?"

My navigation attempts were interrupted by Finn's approach. I still hadn't adjusted to seeing him in his more humanlike Otherworldly form.

"Finn! I need you to get me out of here."

He frowned. "You can't leave yet. Etiquette says - "

"Fuck etiquette," I snarled. "Get me out. I want to be alone."

His standard cheery expression faded. "Sure thing. Come on."

He led me not toward the main doors but rather to a small doorway tucked near a corner. Delicious smells wafted out from inside. This was some sort of back way to the kitchen. A number of scurrying servants gave us startled looks as we passed through twisting corridors and banks of ovens, but Finn moved with purpose, never breaking stride. People tend not to question if they think you know where you're going.

With a flourish, he gestured me to a small alcove far from the bustle of the cooks. Hooks with cloaks and coats covered the walls, and I realized this must be where the staff had stashed their personal things. A small bench sat below the hooks.

"Good enough?" Finn asked.

"Yes. Thank you. Now go away." I sat down and wrapped my arms around myself.

"But shouldn't I - "

"Just go, Finn." I could hear the tears in my voice. "Please."

He gave me a mournful, almost hurt look and then walked away.

The tears took a long time to come, and even then, they did so reluctantly. Only a couple streaked down my cheeks. I had felt helpless with the mud elemental, but this was a different kind of helplessness, one with mental, not physical, consequences.

My heart ached inside for Kiyo, and my stomach burned with fury against Aeson. Neither ailment looked to have a remedy anytime soon.

I don't know how long I sat there before Dorian came. I could only make out his shape in my periphery, but the scent of cinnamon gave him away. He sat down beside me for a long time, saying nothing. Finally, I felt his fingertip gently run along my cheek and wipe away one of the tears.

"What can I do?" he asked.

"Nothing. Not unless you'll let me break hospitality and go do some damage."

"Ah, sweet one, if that were possible, I would have long since strangled several of my nobles, lest I be forced to listen to more of their idiotic blather."

"What's the point of being a king, then?"

"Not sure that there is one. The food maybe."

"You make a joke out of everything."

"Life's too painful not to."

"Yeah. I