Page 73 of The Thren's Fated

“Oh, Yavriel,” she said, placing a palm to his cheek and holding it there for a moment. “I am sorry for all of this, for what Father has done. But you will be free of him soon enough.”

“And you will be Sovereign,” Screl said, and Vottol’s grimace curled into a slight smile.

When Lena stepped up to them, the princess placed a hand on her chest, right where the glow had burned just minutes ago.

“You two have been given a great gift. Use it wisely. Cherish each other.”

Lena nodded, not trusting her voice as Vottol turned her attention back to Screl.

“Now, you must not delay further. Your ship and crew are waiting in bay five.”

Screl nodded, taking Lena’s hand and heading for the door. He gave his sister one last look before pulling Lena through the entryway and leading them down the hall.

INTERLUDE

She came back. Regardless of her reasons, she came back. For me.

CHAPTER 24

It had all been a whirlwind, meeting the skeleton crew on the new ship—Lena had been happy to see Dronzal—and taking off, leaving Botune a glimmering orb in their proverbial rear-view mirror.

After Screl had given his orders, he’d escorted her to a private room, much smaller and less lavish than his quarters on his previous ship, but they were free, which was all that mattered.

Without a word, Screl had dragged her to the bed, taking off her pants and jacket—the same ones he had gifted her for her first trip to Botune—before settling them both under the sheets. Lena had curled up against him, resting her head on his still-bare chest, petting her fingers along the dark bruises as anger welled in her.

“Will you be alright?” she asked, the question coming out in a throaty gasp.

A tentacle stroked her hair rhythmically, tempting to put her in a trance. It felt right to be in his arms, though the memories of the Sovereign’s abuse filled her with fury.

“Of course. I will heal.”

There was a long, comfortable silence, Lena trying to calm her anger, save it for another time. Right now, she wanted to focus on the future, though her mind still raced despite the ease she felt in her body.

Was she really about to forgive him so easily? Not just for the kidnapping, but for joining with her without explaining the repercussions, the permanent bond they now shared. The way she’d be forced to stay with him until her dying breath. A thought that was both frightening and intriguing at the same time.

Screl’s voice broke the silence, soft like a gentle breeze.

“Why did you come back?”

Lena turned to look at him, his mouth stuck in a thin line. It was the same question as earlier, the one she hadn’t had time to answer before their departure from the Sovereign’s palace.

She bit her lip, words buzzing through her mind at a rate she couldn’t comprehend. It was difficult to understand her own actions, why she’d done something like this for the male who had hurt her. But deep down, she knew her answer.

“You don’t deserve what your father has done to you.”

Screl winced ever so slightly, and she was unsure if that was what he’d wanted to hear or not.

In lieu of a response, the tip of a tentacle brushed her chin as he pulled her into a gentle kiss, his arms circling around her and hugging her close. So different from the frantic devouring she’d become used to, just his lips pressing against hers in a way that sent electricity jolting through her.

When he pulled away, his face was serious, that sheepish look she was starting to know well.

“I have hurt you in so many ways. How can I ever make things right?”

A question she wasn’t sure she had the answer to, but with the bond connecting them, she knew he spoke the truth, the sorrow and guilt eating away at him. She had an idea, a shy smile flashing across her face.

“Maybe we can start fresh, so to speak.”

“Really?”