As the sun shone on my face, I felt myself letting out a shaky breath, from cold and body ache. I moved to the side, trying to catch some sunlight on my face but I just fell forward and groaned. I didn't know how I was alive or how the last night had ended. I just somehow had made my way out the van.
"Oh my goodness, Asra!" I heard someone call.
With great force I opened my eyes to see Tynan staring down at me with concern. He began shaking me, asking me questions but all I could do was push him back. I was in pain. My leg still itch and my arms were frozen.
"What are you doing here?" Tynan asked with practiced calm after a minute of silence.
"I don't- Zoya, and many others," I mumbled.
Tynan raised his eyebrows, worry flashing his face. "They need to stop with these silly pranks."
"Silly? 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴? Tynan that was murder! They set fire and locked me in a van!" I said losing my cool, finally opening my eyes. I just realized the lack of clothes on me. Shameful tears gathered in my eyes as I huddled myself.
Tynan seemed to have just noticed too; he took off his sweater and put it on me. "Why didn't you come to me when you first arrived?" He asked, his voice soft.
"How would I know where you were? I just wanted some rest and those monsters ruined it! 𝘠𝘰𝘶 should've come to me," I said, moving away from him.
"They didn't mean tha-"
Hearing that I got up, pushing him with force. In a low tone I let out, "They ran away instead of helping me not catch fire. They might be your friends or more but don't justify there inhuman actions. If you do such stuff, too, don't talk to me."
I stormed away with tears. Somehow I made my way back to my room. When I opened the door I found Zoya sleeping peacefully. I wanted to strangle her. The anger I felt made me surprised. I reached into my bag and took out my dagger, then made my way into the bathroom. Stifling multiple sobs, I took a look in the mirror. My leg bore severe burn marks and the inside of my wrists were wounded in attempts to open the door. I showered and changed into new and covering clothes, ones that wouldn't show my injuries. I looked around the bathroom cabinets and luckily found an aid box. Applying some ointment I got up and grabbed my dagger. I safely tucked it inside my bodice. I was not going to let anyone mess with me.
When I came out I found Zoya fully awake, staring at me with a crazy expression. I kept my face nonchalant and pushed pass her.
"This grimness doesn't suit the girl who cried herself to death yesterday."
"Victory doesn't suit the girl who ambushed unannounced and stayed behind her army of friends. Try me now, I'll be ready."
Zoya let out a cough-like laughter, clearly exaggerating it. I walked out and joined the dining room. Zoya and her gang sat opposite me with Cozbi and her cousins on the end of the table. I took the most isolated seat and sat down. The girl next to Zoya groaned as I sat. Cozbi turned towards me and introduced everyone on the table, "This is Zoya, this is Hope and she is Asa." She nodded towards them. Hope let out another groan and turned away to chat with Zoya. Asa looked at me with her sharp eyes and joined them too. When the guys joined, I learnt the buff guy was name Ignis and the not so buff one was Larkin. Larkin had ginger hair and a scrawny body while Ignis was a brunette and heavy. They joined the girls and loud chatter surrounded the table. Soon after Tynan joined and I caught Zoya flashing a charming smile at him. I focused on my food and only looked up when Tynan took a seat next to me. "Don't pity me. Join your awful gang," I said, moving away but catching Zoya's hard expression. Satisfied over hearing Tynan refuse, I dragged my chair close to him and started to whisper about my journey or my time at the palace in his absence. After the dinner, I moved back to my room. Zoya and Hope already sat there but said nothing as I lay down. Soon after Hope left and Zoya slept too.
The next morning I had to join Cozbi's two older cousins and help them decorate the garden for a tea party. My real cause was to catch on anything suspicious but all the time when they complained about their husbands, I decided to break away and excuse myself. As I entered the palace through the very last building, I found it mostly empty. I halted my steps when I saw light shine through the windows of a room. Peeking in, I saw a middle aged lady sitting with a book in her lap, breathing heavily. Her room was lit merely with candles and her red dress was loose and looked heavy. Feeling uneasy, I decided to walk away but paused when I heard someone talk. "Cozbi really thinks being disloyal to her own land will do her good."
"As if she's loyal to her husband. That prick chases attention. With her old lover in the castle, how could she stay with the unworthy prince?"
"No one deserves to rule that precious land. You know that. I know that. We better find her, she's alive."
There were more than one people in that room. Silence fell as I heard book pages turning. Who were they talking about? Whoever she was, was a danger to Cozbi and Myer both.
"Myth has it she's dead."
"What myth Lady imbecile? No one knows of her except us."
"I and many of 𝘶𝘴 believe she's dead. You have a habit of holding on to dead things. Like your husband and son."
"What did you say?" I heard shouting and shuffling.
I ran off before the fight start.
* * * * *
A few hours later as I walked around, finding excuses to not go in my room, I bumped into Tynan. But he wasn't alone. Zoya clung to him and Larkin was behind them.
"I'm not in the mood to scare you. You can go back to the room. Don't worry," Zoya said, an awful spite in her voice.
"It's because I don't want to stab your pretty back fifteen times. I'd like if you'd mind your own business. I need to talk to Tynan," I said, glaring at her.
Tynan moved forward to talk but Zoya pushed him back, holding his arm tighter. I scoffed, "I am not going to steal him from you. It's something important. Don't be childish."
But Zoya didn't budge. I looked at Tynan to signal him but he didn't meet my eyes. I stood there in disbelief and stormed away. In the immense anger I felt, I decided to keep this information to myself and tell whatever I wanted to Cozbi and Myer both. Somehow I'd find my way out of this. The last thing I wanted to do was corporate. Enough of the royals.