Fake Princess
CHAPTER 89
A triangle. Three girls, all tied together. One side fell, collapsed. Dying up?
“ No need to worry,” murmured me. “ I think I know what it means.”
The soothsayer lowered his head, the light coming from the hole in the dome swept over his long limbs, and did not reply.
“ You won't die,” Devan whispers in the dark.
We were sitting inside one of the pilgrim's bedrooms, I was on a cot and Devan was on the floor . Devan sits with his knees bent, his elbows resting on him. If I looked at her, I knew I would see her eyes sparkling even in the dark. So I leaned against the stone wall and said nothing.
“ Maybe it's not you,” Devan continued. “ Could be Riana, or even the real Diana.”
It made me look at him. “ Good,” I said in a mocking tone. “ So we have to find the real Diana, somehow kill her. It could obviously help the kingdom.”
Devan snorted in annoyance, then sighed. “ That's not what I meant. After all, not all predictions come true. The prophecy that started all this chaos did not happen.”
I didn't answer. I'm numb, I've felt it since I've been out of the temple. Even the key hidden within my fist was not enough to restore my consciousness. I let Devan lead me to the pilgrim's room, heard him tell Brother Axon that I was too tired to learn to leave that night.
I ate the food they brought us, nodded my gratitude unconsciously, then sat on the couch and let my mind wander.
“ And although it is a real prophecy, we cannot fight it. Now we know it, so we can be careful, careful. We can protect them. We'll protect you—I'll protect you.”
Devan got into bed and sat down beside me. “ Come on,” he said as he reached out doubtfully and placed it on my shoulder. “ I just supported you. I won't let you die.”
Closing my eyes, I let myself lean on Devan. Devan smelled good, even after days on horseback. Her body is warm and firm, and my friend.
We were in that position long enough that I felt the stiffness inside me dissipate a little, melting from Devan's warmth. “ Sorry,” I finally said. My voice sounded a little choked, and it made me come to know him in shame. “ That's a strange thing to hear, just that.”
Devan had already lowered his arm from my shoulder, but now his fingers were stroking my arm that was closest to him. “ I believe,” he said. Devan looked me in the eye as he said it, but it was deeper than it should have been.
My heart suddenly fell to my ears, and I was well aware of how close we were. “ It must be almost midnight now,” I stammered. “ We should…. Maybe we should try, uh, library.”
Devan blinked, then stood up, one corner of his mouth drawn in. “ Of course,” he said. Then, a mischievous grin was on his face. “ Well, it's fun.”
I just needed to sneak across the moonlight shaded courtyard to decide that the definition of fun for me was very different from Devan's definition.
Seriate