I am a captive of another king.
As I sit on a bed made of straw and feathers, my knees drawn to my chest, all I can think about is escaping. Is there any way out of this place?
We are at the peak of a mountain—surrounded by nothing but open air, endless sky, jagged rocks, and a thin stream that cuts through the stone like a careless afterthought. There is nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.
I need to go back—but to where?
To Juno?
To Mariner's Bay?
To my own world?
The questions pile up until my head throbs.
I was already drowning in problems, already juggling too many crises at once, and now—this. Another king. Another cage. Another impossible situation.
My thoughts spiral uncontrollably.
How am I supposed to explain to Theo why I slept with Rocco?
How will Gideon feel when he finds out?
And what even is my status with Rocco now?
Before I can untangle any of it, I'm swept into yet another disaster.
What the hell did I do to deserve all this?
I was a good girl—through and through. Honor student. Model citizen. No driving tickets. A responsible adult. A decent, compassionate human being.
So why am I here?
Why do I keep collecting problems in a world that isn't even mine?
I burrow deeper into the nest of feathers, pulling them over myself like armor. I don't want to make any more connections—only to be trampled on again. I'm so tired of being strong.
Then—
Straw rustles violently.
A strong hand grips my arm and yanks me out of the nest.
"Aren't you going to acknowledge me?"
Talon—the King of Avion—stands over me, his wings flaring slightly.
"No one ignores me," he continues coldly. "I am the most majestic creature to ever rule these lands. My beauty, strength, and power eclipse all others. An awful, lowly creature like you should be admiring me."
His disgust is unmistakable.
And annoyingly—he is divine.
White wings that shimmer like pearl. Golden eyes sharp and luminous. Skin that glows faintly, as if kissed by the sun itself.
Glorious.
But no more glorious than Gideon's piercing gold stare. No more captivating than Rocco's storm-gray eyes.
Each of them is striking in their own way.
Still, Talon's aura screams grandeur and vanity—and that alone tells me to avoid looking at him at all costs.
"You are my captive now," he commands. "You are in my territory. Look at me."
"Sorry," I say softly, bowing my head. "My eyes don't deserve to behold such magnificence."
I see it immediately—his weakness.
Ego.
An egotistical, narcissistic maniac. His presence alone announces it. Feeding it is the safest route.
He smirks.
"At least you know your place, ugly little creature."
He leaves me alone after that.
For a while.
I glance at the horned man seated nearby. The harpies swarm him—pressing against his sides, kissing his cheeks, running their claws over his arms. He doesn't react. Not even slightly.
Who is he?
He doesn't seem like a captive. Maybe an ally. Maybe a ruler himself—judging by how casually he spoke to Talon earlier.
Talon, meanwhile, preens shamelessly as birds flock around him, praising his beauty, his feathers, his elegance. More birds arrive—loud, cackling, utterly obsessed with themselves and their king.
I stay quiet. Invisible.
Then Talon claps his hands.
"Let's go for a flight," he announces. "Bless the skies with our elegance."
The birds cheer.
They all take off—every single one of them. Even the harpies abandon the horned man.
My heart starts pounding.
This is my chance.
I move carefully, stepping around the horned man, who doesn't even stir. I creep toward the edge of the mountain.
The drop is deadly. No chance.
But the forest below is lush—conifers and cypress trees stretching endlessly. And there—a spring.
Water.
If there's water, there's a path.
I follow the stream as it narrows into a gentle flow, carving a smooth trail through the rocks.
This is… easy.
Too easy.
I almost laugh as I walk, thinking how ridiculous Talon is—too arrogant to care about an "ordinary human."
Ugly, he said.
Well, I'm not ugly.
I was asked out plenty in my world. I've dated. Loved. Lost. Lived.
Another reason to survive. Another reason to go home.
Ahead, the stream flows into a cave.
Freedom.
Then—
A shadow passes overhead.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Talon lands on a tree, wings snapping open as birds swarm the branches around him.
I run.
I dive into the cave, gulping water as I push forward, heart racing. Light appears ahead—
Then stops.
The water keeps flowing.
Fuck.
Birds circle overhead.
I crawl out carefully, covering myself with fallen branches, holding my breath.
For a moment—it works.
Then powerful wings beat the air.
The branches are ripped away.
I bolt.
"Where do you think you're going?!" Talon roars.
I don't answer. I run until I trip, scrape my knee open, blood streaking down my leg—but I keep going.
"There has never been anyone who made me chase them!" he snaps. "Do you enjoy offending me?!"
I run—
Straight into a dead end.
A waterfall.
I turn—
Too late.
He slams me to the ground, pinning me beneath him. His hands grip my shoulders. His breath is hot, furious.
"You think you can escape me?" he snarls. "Are you mocking me?!"
Then he recoils, disgust flashing across his face as he scrambles off me.
I break.
"Please," I sob. "Let me go. I'm not the Sea King's treasure. I'm nobody. I just want to go home."
His face hardens.
"You have nowhere to go," he says coldly. "This kingdom sits atop the world. You leave by flight—or by falling to your death."
"How is the horned man here then?" I demand.
"Aron is the ruler of Bolivé," he replies calmly. "Do not compare yourself to him."
My sobs return.
The thought of being trapped here forever—alone—crushes me.
Talon crouches, eyes falling to my bleeding knee.
For just a moment… his expression softens.
"Stop running," he murmurs. "You'll only hurt yourself."
He touches the wound. Pain flares—and then warmth.
The cut seals.
He heals me.
Just as quickly, he stands, expression blank once more.
"Come," he orders. "Follow me."
And I did.