Page 115 of A Monarch's Fall

The buzzing in my ears gradually gave way to the sound of my name.

“Percy? Percy, pet. My sweetheart?” Selene called to me.

I was snapped out of the hazy, dream-like state I had been in as liquid silver released me.

“What’s wrong with her?” Selene asked, full of concern.

“She was retrieved unexpectedly, during a punitive strike. General Creel’s men had the good sense to recognise her and pivot to an impromptu rescue mission. Who knows what she endured during her time with The New Foundation?” the King said.

Selene turned her attention back to me.

“Percy, my love, speak to me,” she said softly, her hand moving from my jaw, ghosting down my throat, fingertips hovering above my pulse.

I saw her then, truly. I saw her sunken cheeks, the dark semi-circles that hung beneath her eyes, her dry lips that she wetted.

“Percy?” she begged.

I couldn’t look away from her. All I saw was her pain. The hollowness of my chest began to ache. I imagined it would leave me once I was back with her. But it grew deeper and colder.

So much pain.

“I’m sure she will only require a little time and encouragement,” The King suggested as Selene turned worried eyes to her father.

I drew in a ragged breath, and those eyes returned to me.

“I want to go home,” I said, so low my voice was hardly a whisper.

“We’ll go home,” Selene agreed, her hands at my throat travelling to rub over my shoulders and down my arms, until her fingers laced with mine, and she produced a small, relieved smile.

I stared for such a long moment. She hadn’t understood.

Selene stood tall from her hunched position in front of me.

“Thank you, Father. Thank you so much. I thought you didn’t care,” Selene said, facing the King.

“For you, my only child and future of Borealis, there is nothing I would not do. While I had instructed that all our efforts were to go towards the security of our kingdom, I made the caveat that if by circumstance information concerning your pet came to light or even an opportunity to retrieve her, assuming it would not risk or deplete our resources, such action was permissible,” he told her. I knew he was lying. He never wanted me to return.

“Thank you,” Selene smiled and turned back to me. “I’ll take you home now,” she said.

I stayed still as she tugged gently on my hand until she turned back to me.

I pulled my hand free from hers, and she let me.

“No,” I cried. “I… I want to go back to my home,” I said and stared at my boots, unable to look at her.

Selene was once again crouched in front of me, lifting my chin, forcing me to look at her.

“Percy, what do you mean?” she asked, so kindly, like she would do anything for me, if she only knew what I was asking.

I closed my eyes so I didn’t have to look at her.

“I want to go home. Back to my village,” I told her.

“Sweetheart, I promise that we will visit your new brother as soon as it is safe to do so,” she promised.

I shook my head and felt hot tears roll down my cheeks.

“I don’t want to visit. I want to go back. Alone,” I explained.