"Lauretta" Amaya calls out as she tends to her fresh injury.
"Yes Milady" she looks up from where she kneels
"Have you ever been in love?"
Lauretta smiles and focuses back on her leg. "Are you in love Milady?"
Amaya is taken aback by how straightforward she is. "How can you tell that?"
"Your eyes Milady" she beames. "It lit up when you said it"
"Have you ever been in love?"
"Yes, Milady. I have a mate"
"I suppose you haven't loved anyone other than your mate?"
"what do you mean?"
"Is it possible to love someone who isn't your mate?"
"I think so, but the bond of mates is stronger"
"When did you find your mate?"
" I was 16. He was my friend from childhood and I was so happy when I found out. He was able to tell when he turned 18"
"You must love him"
"I do, but we are no longer together" her eyes saddens. "We were torn apart when I was sold as a sex slave to Santol"
Amaya is appalled. Her heart breaks. She had no idea Lauretta was once or still is a sex slave.
"When were you taken?"
"I was 18. King Audrie raided our lands. He killed the warrior and took the girls as slaves. The pretty ones. I was his personal sex slave" she looks up to Amaya who is too stunned to speak.
"Don't be sad for me my lady. I am 26 now. The memories are slowly leaving. I don't think about it so often. The queen took me as a palace maid. She's my savior"
"Where is your mate?"
"He ran to the neighboring kingdom. We used to communicate through the mind link, but after some time, I didn't hear from him again. I guess the connection broke"
"I don't think a mating bond can be broken"
"It can Milady. Death can break that bond" she explains and Amaya's heart sinks.
"He might not be dead"
"No. The warm part of my heart is numb Milady. I can't feel him anymore. When the queen permitted me to go to the next kingdom, I searched for him. I didn't find him" she finishes wrapping Amaya's injuries. "All done"
She gets up from where she kneels and goes behind where Amaya is seated. She takes a handful of Amaya's hair, about to braid it when the door opens.
It is Lucan. Amaya hasn't seen him since he took her from the woods and brought her back to the palace.
"Come" he beckons. Even though he tries his best to hide it, she doesn't fail to detect the furiousness his eyes hold. Without asking what the problem is, she follows him.
Lucan takes her to the throne room and instructs her to sit on the seat beside his throne. She has a lot of questions, but she doesn't ask as she obeys. Lucan settles beside her.
"Bring them in," he orders.
The door of the palace immediately opens. Many of his guards troop in alongside some bruised people. They had been beaten up so badly that the sight alone disturbs Amaya. The men are about 10 in number while the guards are twice as many.
In no time, the throne room is filled. Amaya is confused. She turns to look at Lucan, but he doesn't explain.
The bruised people are all knelt before the throne, arranged in a straight line. A guard to each person with a knife pointed to their neck. At this point, Amaya is disturbed.
"Lucan, what is the meaning of this?"
"These are the people who were the most active in the Riot," he says with anger visible in his eyes. "Do you recognize any of them?"
Amaya recognizes most of them, especially the man who started the riot, but she still shakes her head negatively.
"Don't lie to me" Lucan glares at her and she melts instantly. "If you can't recognize any, then they all die"
The first guard pulls the first man's head back and is ready to sink his sword inside his throat when Amaya shouts.
"Stop!"
"Then get to it" Lucan snaps at her, already impatient.
Amaya is surprised. She has never seen this side of Lucan before. "Why are you doing this?"
"Amaya for the late time. Did any of them tug on your horse?"
Amaya wants to say no, but she also doesn't want all of them dead. "The first, third, and the last" she blurts out with a shattered heart.
"My lady please" The third man bows his head with pleading eyes. "Forgive me. My Lord" he turns to Lucan. "Have mercy. I didn't know what came over me. Please... " The guard behind him doesn't let him finish. He tugs his hair and slashes his head off with the silver sword.
Tears well up in her eyes, but she doesn't let them pour. Her eyes meet with the man who started the riot. She didn't mention him, but he still looks at her in disdain. He stares right into her soul, making her feel more guilty than she already is.
The first, the third, and the last are all killed. She watches blood trickle from their neck as their lifeless body lay on the floor. Rage surged through her. She turns to look at Lucan.
"How dare you?" She yells at him, but he doesn't say anything. "You monster!" she stands up from her seat and leaves the palace. The smell of the blood alongside the peering gaze she received are part of the reasons she left.
As soon as she gets to her room, she shuts the door because she knows Lucan is going to walk in after her. She slips to the floor, letting the tears pour out of her eye. How can she leave with the knowledge of her killing those people? No! She didn't kill them. Lucan did. She consoles herself, but that doesn't give her solace.
A knock is heard on the floor. She knows it's Lucan. "Go away. You devil" she yells at him.
"Did you expect me to leave them after what they did?"
"Then you should have killed the horse too for taking me into the woods against my will. You should burn the forest I was lost in"
"Amaya open the door" he orders and she scoffs.
"Why don't you break it down since you are very good at breaking people"
"I did this for you"
"I didn't ask for your help"
Silence follows. Amaya thought he had left, but he speaks again."Amaya, I can never tolerate anyone who hurts you. I killed for you and I will kill again for you. As long as it keeps you safe"
Amaya sighs. "I want to be left alone"