Word Count: 1848
~Hunter
Tay slams her palms down onto the table, shocking me out of my half-slumber.
Both Kaan and I jolt up a little straighter, focusing on the girl who finally sinks down into her seat, a grating smile on her face.
"I'm glad I convinced you both to join me for breakfast," she exclaims cheerily, picking up her knife and fork, digging into her pancakes.
"Mmm," I mumble, bracing my head up with my hand.
It's far too early in the morning, and I got almost no sleep last night after my escapade with Kaan. Memories of it haunt me, although Kaan is definitely hurting more than me.
"I only agreed to this because you were cooking, and I much prefer that over whoever mother hired," he says, scattering some sliced fruit over the top of his stack of pancakes.
I only agreed to this breakfast with Tay because I feel guilty about not being her friend.
"You look so hungover, Kaan," Tay notes, raising a brow at him.
My cast slowly shifts over to him. Dark shadows linger beneath his red rubbed eyes. He lets his slightly too-long hair hang down over his forehead like he's trying to conceal his face from me.
"That's because I am hungover," he mutters.
Tay slides a mug closer to me across the table. "Here's your coffee, Hunter. You look extra tired this morning too."
I almost laugh. Instead, I silently take the mug, grateful for the bitter taste of the coffee. I'm not going to tell her about my night with Kaan because I can't quite make sense of it.
Plus, it's shameful to admit that I nearly let a man go down on me that I barely even know.
"I was kept up last night," I tell her, staring down at the dark liquid that swirls around the cup.
"Couldn't sleep?" Concern digs in between her brows. She really cares for me, which makes me feel bad about lying to her, especially when she wants something to happen between Kaan and I.
I shrug. "I was distracted, actually."
I risk a tentative look at Kaan, who I find to be staring back at me. I swallow tightly, remembering what he looked like as he gazed up at me from between my legs.
"You need to get more sleep if you want to be fully healed," Tay says, slicing through my illicit thoughts.
"Maybe it's all the coffee you keep giving her," Kaan states, pointing his fork at my mug.
I narrow my eyes on him. He's probably just jealous that I'm getting more affection from her than him. Although now that I think about it, I haven't seen any member of this family show affection to another.
I have more things in common with these people than I thought.
"She likes it," Tay snaps back at him.
"Or, it gives you an excuse to go talk to her," he notes, taking a long drink from his own mug of coffee.
Tay flushes, knowing she has been called out. She already admitted her intentions to me, and I don't mind. I've been getting better at warming to her overbearing personality, even if it unnerves me sometimes.
"I think I only need another week or two before I can get back on my horse," I bring up, wanting to shift the conversation away from anything that may lead back to what happened last night with Kaan.
Tay's smile dims. "Really? That soon?"
"I've surprised myself with how much I've been able to walk recently," I tell her, cutting into a pancake with the side of my fork.
Kaan's eyes narrow every-so-slightly, knowing that to be true. I walked to and from the village last night, and I woke with a surprisingly lack of pain.
"Are you training today?" Tay asks.
"No. Hunter deserves a day off," Kaan responds, concentrating on his breakfast instead of us.
"I think I might go see what Azura is doing today," I tell the pair.
I could sit around all day and do nothing, but I'm starting to think that being on my feet is what is helping me get my mobility back. Plus, I'm curious about Azura, and selfishly, I quite like being around her, even if she doesn't like me back.
I almost laugh. I'm just like Tay.
"What? Why go see Azura?" Tay question, dropping her fork with a loud clang. Kaan rubs his face, groaning.
I shrug. "I'm tired, it would be nice to do some reading and stay in for the rest of the day."
I never realised spending time with Azura was such a bad thing. Tay seems genuinely confused, while Kaan pays us no mind, preoccupied by what must be a throbbing headache.
"You can read in my room."
"Oh stop it Taysa, it would be good for our dear sister to have some company for once," Kaan grumbles, shaking his head at her.
"You could go be in her presence, brother," she responds through gritted teeth.
Here I was thinking my family dynamic was screwed up. This is just ridiculous. Azura is all alone upstairs and they are acting like she has a plague.
If I'm only going to be here for a few more day, then I'm going to do my best to see her.
"I'm don't know about you two, but I'm going to make the most of mother and father's absence," Kaan tells us, stepping away from the table.
I stare at his back as he leaves, feeling an immense amount of relief wash over me.
What happened tonight doesn't matter. He probably doesn't even remember the moment I decided I was going to let him go down on me...
I stand too. "Have a good day, Taysa."
"Wait, Hunter..." She starts, conflict staining her expression.
I raise my brows. "Hmm?"
She swallows thickly before shaking her head. "Never mind. Have a good day too."
Frowning, I give her a lasting look before I decide I'm not dealing with this today. She is at war with some thought in her head, and I'm sure I'll hear about it later.
For now, I'm going to see Azura.
With my cane gifted from Kaan, I hobble up the stairs, taking them one at a time. Walking on flat ground is one thing, but bracing all my weight on one leg in particular as I go up the stairs isn't a simple fear.
As I suspected, she is seated at the table in the centre of the table, drawing.
She looks up as I approach, her large hazel eyes flaring wider. She immediately pulls her art folder over whatever she was working on, pressing her hands flat against it.
I smile tentatively. "Hello Azura, I hope you don't mind if I join you?"
She shakes her head, gesturing to the seat at the other end of the table. I slide into it, letting out a long breath. I don't think those stairs will never not almost kill me.
"I'm getting much stronger. I think I'll be out of here by next week," I exclaim, deciding I won't press her on what she is drawing.
If she wants to hide it from me, then it's none of my business.
She smiles, tapping her right index finger against the folder anxiously. Her raven hair has been swept away from her face, revealing the hard lines of her cheekbones and jaw. She has that in common with her brother.
"I know you don't particularly like me very much, so don't feel bad about telling me to leave. Just point to the door and I'm gone," I tell her softly.
She shakes her head at me.
"Oh. Okay, great," I murmur. So she doesn't hate me, or for now, I'm okay to sit here.
"Have you stayed up on the top floor your whole life?" I ask her.
She shakes her head, a coldness creeping into her expression. At some point she was banished up here, away from her family.
That's horrible.
"You know, I'm going to be leaving soon, and if you want to come with me, then I'm okay with that," I tell her, not even truly registering what I'm saying.
If I took Azura with me, there's a good chance I'll be hunted by two royal families. However, she should know that she doesn't have to endure this life forever if she doesn't want to.
She blinks. Then, she shrugs.
"Do you like walks?" I ask. I'll bring this conversation about when I'm actually certain that I will be leaving.
She nods, humming lowly.
"I believe Kaan is out, and so is Taysa," I tell her. Usually when I don't spend time with Tay she vanishes to her room, so I doubt she will be out walking.
Azura gets up quickly, rounding the table before she grabs my arm, pulling me up from my chair. I laugh, surprised at her sudden sense of urgency and excitement.
We head off downstairs and then outside, the sun warming my skin immediately.
"This place is beautiful. I'm trying to get out more to force my damn legs to get better," I tell her, looking out past the gardens to the forest I yearn to escape through again.
I will. Soon.
Azura hooks her arms through mine, staring off ahead of her.
I watch her face, smiling gently. She seems like an entirely different person out here. Her eyes are bright and hopeful, the gentle breeze sweeping away her tension with it.
"I think I only need a week before I can return," I sigh. I keep saying it as if it can solidify it happening, because I'm starting to worry something is going to come between me and my freedom.
Azura gives me an uninhibited smile.
A deep ache settles in my chest. "You look so pleased at the thought of me leaving. I hope I don't irritate you."
Her smile weakens, and then disappears immediately.
We walk for a little longer, the sounds of the forest soothing my worries away. How Azura feels about me doesn't matter. I'm moving on soon, so for now, I'm going to do my best to be kind until she is just a distant memory.
"You don't seem to like your siblings very much, do you?" I bring up suddenly.
She audibly sighs, shrugging her shoulders.
"Do they hurt you?" I ask tentatively.
She pauses, her brows furrowing together. Her lengthy moment of thought is enough to tell me that something isn't right in this family. There is a sick poison that spreads through them, and Azura has been hurt by it.
She finally shakes her head, averting her eyes. My jaw tightens. She's protecting them.
Suddenly, I've decided I'm not leaving here until they pay. And I'm going to start with Kaan.
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~Midika 💜🐼