As I wiped my wet hair away from my face, boiling hot water pummeled my skin. I'd been in the shower for about 30 minutes, removing the sweat and drowsiness from my eyes. I only got two hours of sleep after Marcus left my room, but it was a much-needed distraction after the previous few days.
I turned the faucets hard right, waiting for the water to totally stop, before grabbing the gray towel draped over the shower's glass door and coiling it tightly around my wet torso. Before entering the bedroom, I smiled at the foggy mirror over the sink and brushed my hand against my neck, where I knew a bruise was mending. I selected a pair of black leather leggings and a soft teal tank to wear that day. I won't be training again because we're headed to Greenhollow after our meeting, but right now, all I can think about is the raging hunger that threatens to destroy me from within. I muttered gently at myself for believing one slice of toast would suffice before I left last night. In my defense, I needed the downtime because I doubt I'll get another opportunity for a while. Who knows how long it will take me to find that damn artifact?
It wasn't long until I found myself in the dining hall, filling my plate with scrambled eggs and bacon. Only a few soldiers sat distributed throughout the hall, talking quietly and eating breakfast before being summoned to the training fields. Emile had breakfast with Elion in his flat today, while Marcus ate with his housemates. I grabbed a mug for myself, filled it with boiling coffee, added a sugar cube, and found a seat near the center of the room. The meeting isn't for another hour or so, so I took my time relishing the eggs' multi-tone flavor, the moderately sweet, earthy undertone, and the fatty oil of the bacon. I could make out some of the other troops' conversations."Elion is a great instructor." One of the recruits in the far corner murmured around his bites, while the female chief next to him scoffed.
"Great? You simply haven't seen him angry, newbie." She mused while sipping on something that smelled like tea. When my friend's partner was mentioned, I restrained a smile and focused my attention on the male penning a letter alone a few tables away.
"Dammit, she's not going to like that." He moaned, crumpling the paper into a ball and setting it aside before drinking the last of his coffee and beginning to scrawl on a new page. A letter for his family? A girlfriend, perhaps?
"Sylvia, we need to talk." Marcus' voice near me made my ear quiver. He was far too close for my heightened hearing due to eavesdropping.
"Dammit, Marcus. Tap my shoulder next time." I whispered as I sipped from my mug before turning to face him. He straddled the bench beside me without his usual smile. He looked agitated and nervous, and my brow furrowed. "What's up?" I finally asked, putting the last bit of bacon in my mouth.
"We can't do this anymore." He sighed, never meeting my gaze; he appeared to be attempting to look anywhere else but at me. I wasn't expecting this, especially after how he praised his time with me last night and how anxious he was to see me again. I told him I was going on an assignment for a few days and didn't know how long I'd be gone, but that was it. He appeared upset that I was going again, so what prompted the abrupt change of heart? Not that it affected me; what we had was completely carnal.
"Mind if I ask why?" I drawled, observing him intently. He still didn't catch my attention, barely looking at me as I finished the last of my coffee.
"You are a distraction from my work. I can't concentrate on my guard duties with you around." He responded, and I immediately realized it was a lie. I didn't need my intuition to tell me this; it was written all over him. The smell of sweat on his hands, the absence of eye contact, and the nervous energy. I could feel my rage slowly rising. I dislike being lied to. I've been completely honest with everyone in my life, no matter how painful the truth may be, and I demand the same in return.
YOU ARE READING
The Highborn's Salvation
FantasyIn a realm where magic intertwines with the mundane, Sylvia, a fierce and emotionless fae warrior, navigates the treacherous landscape of her existence. Orphaned since birth, she has learned to rely solely on herself and the voice that guided her aw...