On cue, the guard who’d stood still to the side of her the entire time, moved to open the gates. I walked forwards as Hadrian gestured again for me to follow.
I didn’t need to look to know Fadine’s eyes were trained on me whilst I passed, burning two holes into the back of my head. I felt self-conscious under her gaze. So much so that the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
“Do not mind her. She is very protective over me. I have known her for as long as I can remember,” Hadrian said, as if reading my mind.
“Is she always that welcoming?”
“You wait. It is only your first day. You have seen nothing yet.”
***
“I EXPECT TO see you bright and early tomorrow,” Hadrian said, calling over his shoulder. “We would not want Commander Alina to think I’m giving you special treatment instead of putting you through the same training as your fellow peers.”
We’d made it beyond the palaces main doors and were walking in the direction of the stairway that led to my sleeping quarters. I followed steps behind, unaware of just how much time had been wasted in the city.
“Where do I meet you?” I asked, skipping a few steps to catch up with his long strides.
“I will find you, don’t you worry.” He turned and winked.
We passed the familiar details I had studied when I first arrived and knew that we were close to the turn off for the stairs.
“I have very much enjoyed my time with you today,” he said, looking over my shoulder. “Rest up, tomorrow will not be as relaxing. I will speak to the Commander and inform her of my decision.” With that, he bowed his head and I forced myself to do the same. By the time I looked up he had already begun to walk away.
***
IF I KNEW Petrer was going to grill me the moment I returned to the room, I wouldn’t have come back straight away. I would have wasted hours wondering the palace, exploring my new dwelling. But instead I was stuck in the room with him. The effects of the ale were wearing off and so was my patience with Petrer’s string of questions.
“What did he say? I heard you went into the city with him? Is he a dick like they say? Are you a shifter?”
“Petrer, honestly! I am exhausted. All I want to do right now is sleep.”
“All right, touchy, you can’t blame me for wanting answers. You disappeared this morning after Commander Alina took you away. I was worried, is that such a crime?”
I released a frustrated breath and rolled over to face the wall beside me.
“Oh, come on, Zac…” Petrer called from below, “You have to tell me something, just a little bit of information is all I need to quench my thirst.”
I knew Petrer well enough to know he was not going to give up until he got his way, it was the same as always.
“Please…” His voice droned like a child begging their mam for candies.
Anything to just shut him up.
“Yes, I was with the Prince…” I couldn’t see Petrer from my bunk, but the silence was enough to tell me he was surprised with my answer. “Alina… Commander Alina was unimpressed with my lack of shifter display and thought my best punishment was to be saddled with Hadrian.”
“On a first name basis, are we?” Petrer mocked.
“Jealous, are we?” I replied, sharp.
“Not at all.” The pause that followed told me that Petrer was, in fact, jealous. “Are you not going to ask how my day was?”
“Not really interested, to be honest. I’d rather sleep.” For the first time today, I was telling the truth. At least in sleep, I had a break from the torment of worry my mind put me through.
“Something has really gotten into you, Zac,” Petrer said, huffing from his bunk below me. “But tomorrow you best be in a better mood. I’m starting to get the impression I’ve done something to upset you with the way you are acting.”
You have no idea.
MY HEAD SNAPPED backwards against the pillow. I gasped in pain and opened my eyes. A force gripped onto my shoulders and shook me again. I bolted upright, coming face to face with the Commander. Through the haze, her features seemed blurry, but it was clear she was seething.
“You seem to have a habit of ignoring my requests!” she spat, jumping down from the side of the bunk, Petrer moaning when her foot connected with his side.
I rubbed my eyes, clearing the sleep, my hands still numb. The sunless, misty view from the window told me all I needed to know. It was too early to be up. Yet awake I was, and looking at a living nightmare.
My heart felt like it was going to explode. I couldn’t decide on what was worse; the dream I’d been ripped from or the red face of the Commander before me.
“I’m sorry, Commander,” I replied, fighting a yawn. “I’m a heavy sleeper.”
Gwendolyn peeked her face above her bunk, her brows pinched in distaste.
“I have waited long enough, get ready and meet me outside immediately.”
“But, Commander, I have to meet with P—”
“Immediately!”
She stormed from the room. The door slamming against the wall as she threw it open.
I stuffed my face into the pillow, screaming into the feathers. I was exhausted. My eyes were heavy; all I wanted to do was crawl into a ball and sleep. As if reading my mind, Commander Alina slammed a hand against the door, urging me out of bed.
Changed, I knelt beside Petrer’s bed and nudged his back. He rolled over and looked at me through squinting eyes. His face crunched in annoyance at being woken yet again.
“Zac, I love you to bits, but I love my sleep just a little bit more,” he murmured, stretching his toned arms above his head.
“I love my sleep too, but the Commander is waiting just outside the door for me.”
Petrer rolled his eyes. “I heard.”
“Listen, the Prince is going to come looking for me this morning and I’m going to need you to tell him where I have gone.”
“And where is it you are going?”
I rocked back, stumped. “I don’t actually know. Unless she had screamed it when I was still sleeping. Just tell him that Commander Alina came for me, he will find her.”
“Leave it to me, sweet thing.”
I ignored his last remark and turned for the door.
I closed it behind me, waiting to hear the click of the door as the latch fell into place. The Commander stood with her back to me. In the candlelight of the corridor, I could see that she wore a nightdress. No armour or fancy uniform in sight. No wonder she was so annoyed. Her boots peeped from under the hemline of her dress, muddied and scuffed. It was clear she had been in a rush to get here.
I stepped forward into her line of sight, “Sorry to keep you waiting Commander.” I forced my sweetest and most believable voice as I addressed her.
“Don’t do it again, boy,” she said, still not facing me but looking off beyond the window at the end of the corridor.