Vai watched the strange woman disappear in between the trees. He’d expected to be shaken or nauseous when she left as he had after Fenrin and Tryst’s interrogations, but instead he felt the same. Not good, but the same.

  Slowly, he picked his way back to the cabin. Fenrin gave him a curious glance as he came in, but Vai just nodded neutrally and the man didn’t press. Vai opened the door to Fiona and his bedroom. The princess was still asleep.

  Vai suppressed a sigh. He didn’t want to start another day of lessons and housework.

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  He blinked.

  Slowly, he reached out and stretched a palm over the wooden table, pressing into the surface with silent tension.

  He didn’t want to be here.

  He didn’t want to be scared and alone.

  The blasphemous words did not slice into him as they usually did. Instead his mind countered.

  He wanted to do as his goddess asked.

  He wanted to repay her trust in him.

  Vai lifted his hand, flexing it before gently shaking the princess he alone was trusted with, the heir to the throne he was to watch and prepare.

  “It is time to get up.”

  He could do this.