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“No, but he did not hurt me.” Geryon wanted to laugh. He was as kind as he could be to a witchling he hadn’t wanted to harm but still despised. “How did you know where I was in the palace?”

“There was a ball the previous night. I snuck into the palace in a beautiful dress and searched for you.”

“I bet you looked pretty!”She had been captivating.He quickly turned his gaze away, not knowing why such a thought came to him. “You always have men follow you when we go through the town.”

The child was bouncing on her back, giddy with their new conversation. He crinkled his snout at hearing this. Was that a spike of anger he felt? Jealousy, even? Ridiculous! He hated Valerie for what she was, now that he knew. He wouldn’t, shouldn’t, be jealous of some faceless men.

“Yes, well, they come to realise a pretty face does not mean I have a pretty heart.”

“It is because you never smile.” The girl dug her index fingers into Valerie’s mouth and pulled the corners up, forcing her to grin. “Mother says it is because you are broken.”

“Mother says a lot of things,” she retorted, her lips and cheeks stretched like she was unbothered by the child doing it. She put the girl down to take her hand so they could walk together. “You are obviously well enough to irritate me, so you may walk on your own.”

They walked silently through the forest, the constant shade keeping the worst of the summer sun’s heat away. Geryon could hear a few buzzing insects that quietened when their crunchy footsteps approached. The air smelt muggy, but for a reptilian creature such as himself, he thrived in the heat.

He noticed the light sweat dotting down the Witches’ foreheads and neck, and they occasionally swiped their brows. It wasn’t too deep into summer yet, but he imagined their constant movement was keeping them warm.

The child spoke again after having a thoughtful look upon her face. “When we return home, can you teach me how to fight? I do not want Mother to teach me. I want it to be you.”

“I thought you did not want to learn how to fight.”

Kaeylyn looked away with a grumpy pout. “I changed my mind. I do not want to be taken again.” Then she held her hand out like she was holding an imaginary sword. “I want to do what you did when those men tried to hurt us.”

“I am glad you wish to learn to fight. Our magic is not used to harm, so you must know how to protect yourself,” Valerie said, as she looked down at her. “But Mother will have to be the one who teaches you.”

“She is not like you, Valerie. She will be upset if I get hurt, so she will not do it properly. She never lets me learn anything fun.”

Valerie let out a small sigh. “Who do you think taught me? Mother is a wonderful teacher. Give her a chance.”

“No!” The child stamped her foot. “I want you to be the one who teaches me.”

“What you want, and what you can have, are two different things, Kaeylyn.” The girl folded her arms, pouted, and stopped walking, forcing Valerie to stop as well. “Do not act like a spoilt child.”

She booted Valerie in the shin, who gave no response to the kick except for a tiny twitch on her brow.

“Kick me again and I will push you.”

The girl pulled her leg back and kicked even harder, before launching forward to start smacking her in the torso. Valerie shoved her little sister so hard into the ground, she rolled back. Geryon was surprised she did it.

“I will not tolerate your childishness. You may be able to get away with hitting because Mother spoils you, but I will not stand here and let you hurt me because you are not getting your way.”

Valerie turned and stormed through the forest, as if to leave her. Kaeylyn ran after her, in fear of being left behind.

“You pushed me!” She started crying again, this time wailing into the air with her head tilted back as heavy tears streamed down her red, blotchy face. “Why are you always so mean to me, Valerie? I am going to tell on you!”

The loud, squealing shrieks irritated his sensitive ears, so much so that he waited until they were further ahead. He squinted his eyes as he watched them from his perch on a branch.This will be a long journey.

Already, he grew impatient with the child.

“You speak as if you are a singled-out target. I was given my title for a reason.” Valerie rolled her eyes as Kaeylyn grabbed her skirt and pulled. “Do not pretend Aldora and Carwyn would not have done the same.”

One thing Geryon was learning from all of this was that the woman he met in the palace had not been false. That cold, unfeeling personality he’d liked in her was real, and he was able to bear witness to it now.

The only things that were different were her name and her scent.

If he hadn’t seen her cry for her sister with his own eyes, hadn’t seen her sadness at her possible death and then relief when she was healed, Geryon would have figured she hated her.

She wears that mask tight, even with her family.What a strange thought.