I couldn't believe the hell I was going through.
I didn't want to be here. I didn't ask for this. I was dragged into this world with no choice of my own, and I was done pretending I could handle it.
I'm strong. I've always been strong. But this?
This felt like too much.
Tears spilled down my cheeks before I could stop them. All I'd wanted was to train for a triathlon. That was it. Just a normal, human, "I want to challenge myself" decision. When Jenna called my name and asked if I was coming, I should've left with her. I should've gone home.
Now I was stuck in a strange, terrifying place where nothing made sense—and the one place that had started to feel a tiny bit familiar… didn't want me either.
My chest tightened, and a sob ripped out of me.
I had never felt so helpless and hopeless in my entire life.
I wiped my face with the back of my hand, got up, and grabbed my shorts and crop sports bra. If they didn't want me here, fine. I would leave. I refused to be a burden—being unwanted was one thing, but being the cause of harm? No. That's the last thing I'd ever want.
Voices floated out from the temple behind me. I turned slightly and saw Gideon stepping out, followed by the clan elders.
"Your Highness," one of them said, "she is dangerous. Your judgment and instincts did not fail you—but perhaps she cast some spell on you. Even the Oracle has spoken. She must leave our land immediately before she brings more harm to us all."
Their words crashed into me like a wave.
Dangerous.
Spell.
Leave immediately.
I hated all of it. The whispers, the fear, the way everyone looked at me like I was some cursed object they wished they could throw off a cliff.
I just wanted to wash my clothes and get out of this suffocating white dress. I didn't even care anymore if they "allowed" me to stay or not—I just wanted to be away from their accusing eyes.
Their voices blurred into a dull roar, white noise against the pounding in my ears. While they continued arguing, I stepped forward and cut into their discussion, my voice raw.
"Excuse me," I said, forcing my words out evenly. "Where is the nearest stream or waterfall? I just need to wash my clothes and change."
An older woman, her face kinder than the rest, hesitated before pointing off into the trees. I didn't wait for more. I clutched the white dress tighter to keep it from slipping, gathered my things against my chest, and walked away—half-stomping, half-tripping over roots and rocks.
I had never felt so small or so miserable.
By the time I reached the waterfall, my tears had dried on my cheeks, leaving tight tracks behind. I stopped and just stared.
It was… breathtaking.
The waterfall spilled from high above, crashing into a clear pool that shimmered with light. The mist rising from it glittered in the air like scattered sparks. Dandelions and daisies grew everywhere, nodding gently in the breeze, as if tiny fairies had planted them. The water was so clear I could see smooth stones on the bottom.
For the first time since everything started, I felt my chest loosen.
I dropped my things and stepped into the pool. The cold water hugged my legs, then my waist as I waded deeper, the white dress clinging to my body. I spotted my shoes resting neatly on a flat rock and placed my clothes beside them, scrubbing them in the water until they were as clean as I could make them. Then I just… let myself sit beneath the waterfall and breathe.
If I was going to die here, I might as well enjoy the scenery first.
The water pounded gently on my shoulders, washing away sweat, tears, and maybe a little bit of the fear. I closed my eyes, letting the sound of rushing water drown out everything else.
Then I felt it.
That prickling sensation on the back of my neck.
Someone was watching me.
I opened my eyes and turned.
Gideon stood at the edge of the pool, half-shadowed by the trees, watching me with an unreadable expression.
"If you came here to tell me I have to go," I said, my voice steady but tired, "I will. Just let me dry my clothes and change first."
He didn't answer.
Silence stretched between us, only broken by the roar of the waterfall. I shut my eyes again, assuming he had nothing more to say—that maybe he'd finally given up on me too.
Then I shivered as his fingers trailed lightly down my back.
I gasped and turned around, pushing my wet hair away from my face. "What was that for? Was there something behind me?" Panic flickered in my chest.
His gaze had changed—soft, but burning with something intense. Desire. Confusion. Need.
"I can't help it," he said quietly. "I wanted to feel if you were real. When I saw you from afar, you looked like a fantasy. A dream."
I stared at him, stunned.
I cannot deal with this man.
Here I was, lost, terrified, rejected by his people… and he was still flirting. Honestly, I appreciated it on some level—it made me feel seen—but it was the absolute worst timing.
"Thank you," I said, voice cracking, "but can we not talk about this right now? Your people want me out of here, and I don't blame them. If I thought I was a bad omen, I'd want me gone too. So I'll leave. I don't want anyone getting hurt because of me."
Tears blurred my vision again.
I was scared—not just for me, but for them. For the kids I'd seen playing in the branches, for the mothers, for the clan that had taken me in even for a moment. I didn't want to stay… but a selfish part of me didn't want to go either. That part wanted to cling to Gideon's warmth and pretend none of this was happening.
Gideon stepped closer, cupping my face as he brushed away my tears with his thumb. Without saying anything, he slid his hands to my shoulders and pulled me gently toward him, inhaling like he was memorizing my scent.
"It's strange," he murmured. "I truly don't understand. Your presence—your aura—calms my instincts. When you are near, I feel relieved. At peace. Everything in me tells me I can trust you."
"I am harmless," I whispered back, desperate to make him believe it. "I wouldn't hurt a fly."
"You will stay with me," he said, tone shifting into something firm and resolute, "until we find another way to help you."
"But—"
"I am the King of these lands," he said, eyes steady on mine. "My word is final. If anyone has a problem, they can come to me."
There was no point arguing. Not now.
Once my clothes dried, I changed back into my shorts and sports bra, grateful to feel like myself in some small way. We walked back to his palace together. The moment we stepped into the main area, I could feel the stares.
Sharp. Cold. Piercing.
It felt like the entire kingdom wanted to claw me to pieces.
Why did Gideon insist on keeping me here? Did he trust his instincts that much?
And what if… what if I really was putting him in danger? He was the only one standing between me and everyone else's fear.
When we reached his home, he scooped me up and carried me inside like I weighed nothing.
"Stay here as long as you want," he said softly. "I'll bring you some food."
His smile was warm, almost boyish. I could barely manage a smile in return, but I gave him one anyway—it was the only way I knew to show my gratitude without falling apart.
I lay down to rest and, like the night before, he joined me to keep me warm. Exhaustion pulled me under quickly.
The next morning, when I opened my eyes, the space beside me was empty. Gideon was gone, but he'd left food nearby for me. My throat tightened.
I was so thankful for him. For his kindness. For trusting someone he barely knew when no one else did.
It was quiet that morning—too quiet. Maybe this was normal. Or maybe everyone was avoiding the king's cursed guest.
My mouth felt dry. I needed water, and I couldn't keep relying on Gideon for every little thing. I had to start being more independent, especially if I was planning what came next.
So I took a deep breath and began carefully climbing down from the high platforms, testing each branch before putting my weight on it. It was like rock climbing with no harness—just instinct and hope.
Halfway down, I heard low, hushed voices.
"We have to get rid of her," one of them whispered. "The king must be under a spell if he cannot see she's a threat."
Murmurs of agreement followed.
"Get rid of."
Did they mean chase me out? Lock me up?
Or… kill me?
My heart pounded, but I forced myself to keep moving, slow and steady, until I reached the ground. I headed straight to the spring, scooped cold water into my hands, and drank, trying to calm my nerves.
As I sipped, my eyes drifted toward the mountain of fruits. Some of them had started to rot. Absentmindedly, I thought they should sort those out.
Then a thought hit me.
If they wanted me gone… maybe I should go on my own terms.
Buy myself some time.
Gather food.
Find something I could use to defend myself.
Figure out how to slip out through one of their exits before they decided what "get rid of" meant.
"Hi!" a bright voice chimed.
I spun around. A young man, maybe in his late teens, was walking toward me with an easy smile. He looked open and friendly, all wide eyes and soft features.
"The King asked me to look after you while he's gone," he said proudly. "I left for a bit and when I came back, you were gone! How did you get down here?"
He sounded more impressed than scolding. Cute. Like a puppy.
(Not a puppy, Sienna. Focus.)
"Sorry I left," I said with an apologetic smile. "I was really thirsty, so I climbed down. It took a while, but I managed. Sienna." I offered my hand.
He stared at it for a second like it was a foreign object.
"What's your name?" I asked.
"Theo! I am Theo, the king's trustful apprentice!" he declared, chest puffing with pride.
I giggled. At least one person here didn't seem to hate me. And if he was that devoted to the king, he probably wasn't thinking too hard about anything else.
"Theo," I said casually, "if you don't mind me asking… how do you get out of here?"
He answered without hesitation. "Through the main gates, the underground caves, or the hidden entrances at the four corners of the kingdom."
I blinked.
Wow. This boy was a security leak on legs.
I kept asking little follow-up questions—why the entrances were designed that way, who used them, how often—and he answered everything so openly, I almost felt guilty. Almost.
Either he was completely unaware of the importance of this information… or he trusted me just because I was "the king's friend." Either way, I was absolutely going to use it.
"Theo, why don't you show me around the kingdom?" I suggested lightly. "Gide—uh, the King—showed me a bit yesterday, but we didn't have much time."
He brightened immediately. "Yes! I will give you the best tour."
As we walked, he introduced me to the beast folk we met along the way. Not all of them glared. Some were wary but polite. Some even smiled.
We spent time with the mothers and their babies. I helped a few women carry baskets of fruit and learned their names. I played a game of tag with the kids, laughing as they scrambled between roots and branches.
They told me that in their culture, a beast woman who wagged her head and let her hair sway showed her pride and confidence.
So I pulled out my hair tie, let my hair tumble down my back, and gave it a slow, dramatic swish—like a shampoo commercial in slow motion.
Everyone stared.
"Your hair looks so shiny and soft," Theo breathed, cheeks turning pink. "I've never seen anything like it."
"Yes," a few others agreed, nodding enthusiastically.
"Stop," I said, embarrassed, my face heating up.
"Can I touch it?" Theo asked innocently.
"Sure," I laughed.
He reached out—
A thunderous growl ripped through the air.
Everyone froze.
We turned. Gideon stood a few feet away, eyes blazing.
"Don't touch her," he said, voice low and authoritative.
He strode over and grabbed my arm, his fingers tightening around my skin.
"Gideon, what's wrong?" I winced. "Let me go. Why are you so mad? You're hurting me."
He stopped, his grip loosening, but he didn't let go completely.
"Why do you let others touch you so freely?" he demanded, chest rising and falling with sharp breaths. "You belong to me. I am the only one who can touch you. Didn't I tell you that?"
I stared at him, shock giving way to anger.
"Okay, first of all," I said, prying my arm from his grasp, "I don't belong to you. Or to anyone. I never agreed to be with you. It doesn't work like that, and you have to respect that. I don't care if you're the king. I am not yours."
The air around us went still.
He stared at me with sharp, predatory eyes, something wild flickering behind them—as if I'd just challenged the beast inside him.
Is this it?
Is this the moment he finally turns on me?