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“Unfortunately, I agree with you,” River replies.

“It does make sense, and let’s face it, we know that Kylen is capable of some horrific things.

If someone offered him something that he wanted and all he had to do was to kill the human, who was important to the team that he has a long-standing rivalry with, then yeah, I totally think that he would do it. ”

“He’s supposed to protect supernaturals,” Griff frowns.

“He is, but he has always had a cruel streak a mile wide, and it would appear that’s turned into downright evil,” Doc points out.

“We need to keep you safe and make sure that you are never left alone with them,” Ransom says, his eyes running over me like I might disappear at any moment.

“That would be great, but we’re in the Choosing and there’s a really big possibility that I am going to end up on a trial with them again in the next few days,” I point out, making their frowns deepen even more. “I am really good at staying alive, even when I technically die.”

“You can’t die, in front of all of the supernaturals watching, hell you can’t die just in front of Kylen, that would be a really bad idea. It would put you in more danger than you are already in,” Ransom says.

I frown, “Shit yeah, you’re right. I know that, it just slipped my mind.”

“That’s okay, there’s been a lot going on,” Reed reassures me.

“Surely he wouldn’t try to kill me during a trial, when we’re being filmed right?” I ask. “There are rules against it and that would be a really fucking stupid thing to do.”

“She’s right,” Doc agrees. “It would be much easier to kill her off here while she’s at the castle and we aren’t being filmed.

Also, while she is separated from us. He knows that her room is separate from ours, and that at some point we’re going to go on a trail and she’s most likely going to be left here without us. ”

“Fuck,” Van curses, running his hand through his hair.

“I have Castle, so I might even be more protected here than I am anywhere else. It wouldn’t let anything happen to me and I’m pretty sure that it can do some damage if it wants to,” I try to reassure them.

“That’s true, but I still don’t like it,” Raiden says, with a heavy frown.

“Don’t forget Mabel and the others, they’re a lot stronger than they look and part of their job is to make sure that the contestants remain safe in the castle, if I mention to her that I’m not, then I’m sure she’d have more guards around, like at dinner,” I add.

“Yeah, definitely do that, and if you’re okay with it I think it might be a good idea for us to stay with you for the rest of the time that we’re here,” Evander suggests looking at me.

“I am completely okay with that, but I think that it might be a better idea if I stay in the room with you guys instead, there’s more space there for everyone, and we need to make sure that we’re getting enough rest between trials,” I reply.

Van nods in agreement and then frowns again, “Wait, what about Coen?”

“What about him?” Griff asks curiously so that I don’t have to.

“Well, what if he comes to find Neith again and she’s not here?” Van asks.

I shrug, “He’s not stupid. He’ll assume I’m with you guys and if he still wants to find me then he’ll ask castle to help him do it, in fact,” I look around the room, “Castle, if Coen turns up to look for me can you please direct him to the guy’s rooms?”

The fireplace flares to life in agreement and I smile.

“That’s a yes,” Raiden points out.

“So, it’s settled then,” Van says.

I nod, “Sure. I have no desire to be myself after all of that anyway, so I most likely would have ended up in your rooms.”

“We’ll move your stuff over after we’ve eaten,” Griff says.

“Okay. Don’t let me forget the stuff out of the bathroom, it smells amazing, and I want to bring it with me,” I grin, and the guys all smile and nod.

After that the conversation moves on to other things, although there is an underlying tension throughout all of the conversations, since we know that any second now we could get pulled into another trial.

“Do you think that the Choosing is giving you some time this morning to recover?” River asks curiously.

I shrug, “I suppose it’s possible.”

There’s a knock at the door and I reluctantly get up from the pile of men on my bed. That sounds way dirtier than it actually is and if I’m being honest I would have preferred it if it was the dirty version.

Unfortunately, we’re all dressed.

“Be careful,” Raiden frowns.

I look back over my shoulder, “Don’t worry Castle would warn me if it was someone unpleasant,” I reply with confidence because I know that he would.

“You mean, Kylen,” Van says.

“Well yeah,” I reply. Pulling open the door I smile in greeting when I see Mabel standing outside, wringing her hands and studying me worriedly. I ask as I usher her into the room, “Is everything okay?”

She smiles, “Yes, I was worried about you.”

I glance away feeling slightly embarrassed, “Yeah, I really wish that wasn’t shown to every supernatural in all the realms.”

“Hey now,” she says firmly, and my gaze snaps back to her.

“I will have absolutely none of that. All I saw, all anyone saw, was an incredibly strong woman, who despite the distress she was put under still managed to pass the task that the Choosing had given her. I have watched many Choosing’s and many have not survived the second level in that particular task, and as far as I have seen no one has had a final level quite as traumatic as that one. ”

“Really?” I ask. “You’re not just saying that to make me feel better?”

“No. I don’t do that sort of thing,” Mabel replies in a very matter of fact kind of way that makes me like her even more.

I glance over at the guys, and find them all nodding in agreement with her sentiment.

As much as I still hate that a weakness, and actually more than that, a deeply traumatic piece of my past was exposed to possibly millions of supernaturals, I have to admit that there is fuck all that I can do about it and instead of worrying about it, or carrying it with me, I’m going to let it go.