Never Yours ✔️

Ch. 5

As Arysa walked down the halls, a set of footsteps started after her.

"Arysa!" Ashlyn called. "We need to talk."

"Now isn't a good time." Arysa replied coldly. "As you can clearly see, I'm on official duty."

"Don't pull that with me." Her brother snapped. "You've been avoiding me."

"Preposterous."

"You haven't left your room since Em had me released."

"There are a thousand reasons for that."

He caught up to her and grabbed her arm. She jumped back like he'd burned her and he pulled away sharply. Arysa stilled, breathing deeply in through her teeth.

"Unless you're in the mood to tell me what happened while you were gone, I have nothing to talk to you about." She said coldly.

"Why are you acting like this?" Ashlyn bit out. "You're not the one who was locked in the dungeon for two days!"

"I'm not the one who tried to kill the king's advisor." Arysa hissed.

She turned to leave, but Ashlyn jumped in front of her.

"Like anyone would care if he ended up dead." He snapped. "He's been nothing but a menace, to this kingdom and to you. I know he did something to you when I was gone. He's got you wrapped up in his net hasn't he? And you let him keep you there-"

"If anyone's wrapped up in his net, it's you, Ashlyn." Arysa spat. "That's all you can think about since you got back. You haven't spoken a single word to me that isn't about him. You know, there used to be a time when our lives weren't ruled by what he's done."

She pushed him aside, but he grabbed her and pulled her back to face him. "Why won't you let me protect you, Arysa?"

"You can't protect me anymore." No one can. "You lost that right when you left."

She jerked out of his grip and started down the hall. He didn't try to stop her this time.

"You can't hold that against me!" He called to her back. "You know I had to. We both had to."

And that was what Arysa hated most about it all. She knew they had no choice. She knew she had no right to resent him for leaving her at Serden's mercy, but she did. She hated him for leaving her. Bitterness burned dark and thick inside her heart and it weighed her down alongside the knowledge that it was unfair of her to feel that way, the guilt that she put a weight on her brother that wasn't his to carry. But no amount of telling herself it wasn't his fault seemed able to make her believe it.

Queen Arla waited for her exactly where she said she'd been. Arysa approached her, feeling foolish that a girl half her size made her feel small in comparison. The things Arla had been through showed in her eyes, the suffering, the loss, the pain. Arysa had seen nothing like the horrors Arla knew.

"You should know before we begin, the Vella are not like the people of Rahaida." Arla said as she led Arysa down the stairs of the palace.

Arysa nodded. "I suspected as much, though I regret to say I've little experience with people of your kind."

Arla chuckled. "Most of you haven't. There are little of us that live east of the mountains. And those on the west are too afraid of your people to contact. They've created legends and myths, you know. They've no idea who the Rhine truly are. They call you Elves and make up stories about your mythical powers and blinding beauty."

Arysa scoffed. "Why do they feel the need to make up these legends? Is not knowing too much for them to bear? We simply accept that we do not know what you are capable of and move on."