Dreadlords The Anniversary of Freedom

[Kristen Pirian]

Kristen stood and stretched, feeling as though she'd just risen from an incredibly restful sleep and that a surplus of exuberant energy coursed through her body. It was a far cry from how she felt when first reaching this secluded rooftop, pensive and embarrassed and wracked with frayed nerves and stress, to now. And it had all been because of Drastus. Their mission to Vel Numera, and even their mission that had been led by Tinker Smithe, had both been quite illuminating. All of that potential, the back and forth uncertainty of her own feelings and if they were requited, had come into perfect clarity and realization. This wasn't like her crush on Dorian, there and perhaps warm for a little while before being whisked away like a flower petal in a quiet wind.

This was real. Mother had spoken of the time when she had fallen in love with Father, that moment, and she said of it that the heart sings true. That was how she knew.

Yes. Kristen's heart sang true.

She crouched down by the ladder when Drastus called it out, hazarding a curious gaze of the edge of the rooftop. Oh, how could even those who could fly bear the heights?

"Very well."

The ladder, thoroughly tested, seemed sturdy enough. Kristen was turning around, fussing with her dress a little in order to place her feet upon the first rungs, when she called down, "Don't look up!"

She giggled. It was funny to her, this impulse of modesty, so soundly ingrained, even when she now was far less concerned with Drastus seeing a flash of pearly leg under her dress.

Kristen started to descend the ladder. Ginger were her movements at first, as if she still didn't quite trust the soundness of the ladder's structure. She picked up the pace though, getting into a rhythm, climbing down with an increased alacrity after she'd put aside her tiny nagging fears and nervousness.

Drastus Tal'deneshaar

 

[Drastus Tal'deneshaar]

Don't look up!

Kristen rang out the one thing that would absolutely backfire. He was hotwired to do exactly what he was told not to do. So, he glances up. First her ankles, then her calves, and before he looked any further up, he managed to rein it in. "Yes, dear." He would say as he leaned against the building, waiting for her.

Once she touched down, he shot her a smirk. "Kris.. I gotta level with you.." he began with a conspiratorial look. '.. I seent a knee." He would then laugh, before pulling her to him to gift her another peck on the lips.

"You, get to pick out the artist." He would say as if giving her a top secret assignment from the Anirian government.

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Kristen put on a highly theatrical, mock face of demure shock, tips of her fingers pressed to her mouth and all.

"A knee! Oh say it isn't so!"

She didn't pull away too far after the sweet little peck of a kiss, after the low whisper of the choice of artist being given to her. Yet while that whisper had a mirthful tone, what she was about to bring up would not. Her smile diminished as a more serious expression came over her.

"Before we go...it must be said that we truly ought to take care," she said, placing a hand on Drastus's chest. "My enrollment into the Academy may have been late, and I may have missed the old ways, but...there are things that have not escaped my notice."

A nervous nibble of her bottom lip.

"We must take care. For to be seen as we are, by our peers or, worse, by Proctors, may have damaging consequences."

The most charitable way to put it was that even in the new ways of the Republic, love within the Academy, and even among full-fledged Dreadlords, remained...frowned upon at best. Culture was a slow wheel, and it turned slowly. Very slowly.

Drastus Tal'deneshaar

 

[Drastus Tal'deneshaar]

She got suddenly serious and he knew why, it was the part of the conversation that needed to happen on the ground floor. Back in reality. The look was the giveaway.

His eyes fell to her hand on his chest. Her words were cautious, well-intentioned, practical. She had a point. She nibbled at her bottom lip, as if nervous he would react poorly to what she was saying.

A cursory glance, showed they were still out of sight, still tucked away in their little corner of the world. His hand cupped her cheek and the other rested atop her hand. "I know.. in front of others, we aren't together.. but alone?" He smiled. "This heart is yours, Kris. I don't care how tucked away it has to be, as long as I have yours."

He would withdraw his hands, though they lingered longingly. "Least it helps i put my arms around friends, so there won't be anything suspect about that, for the portrait." He would say with that grin returning. He was about to offer his arm, but thought better of it. "Shall we, Lady Pirian?"

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

I know...in front of others, we aren't together...but alone? This heart is yours, Kris.

She nodded, and it was as if the very motion stirred together the mixture of feelings she had at this. Solemnity that it need be so, relief that it would happen, and even excitement for the prospect of danger. This last was most interesting, for while she would indeed prefer to call aloud to the world her love for Drastus, still there was something engaging about the need to be clandestine. It brought to mind midnight rendezvouses, notes passed in secret, knowing looks exchanged. It was their bond against their environs, against the forces that would see it broken, and yes, in this there was a fair thrill.

Kristen needed only to learn, and learn quickly, how to tell little necessary lies to keep their love concealed. At least until they had such standing that they need keep it hidden no longer.

"Let's."

And into the crowd of Anir Square they went. My, how different it was! When they'd departed from the crowd to the alcove they were but two fellow Initiates, one guilty and one embarrassed. Now in their return, their spirits uplifted, they were something more than merely peers. So total a transformation in so little time. No, that wasn't true. This house had been built slowly, gradually, and only now had the final touch been added and it had been christened "Home Sweet Home."

"Do you suppose the others are having a good time?" Kristen mused, speaking over the din of the crowd. Zael, Henk, Everleigh, Chasmine...hopefully none of them had done something embarrassing. Hopefully their days were going by wonderfully.

Drastus Tal'deneshaar

 

[Drastus Tal'deneshaar]

Drast didn't mind the secrets, he was used to those. His name bore with it negative connotations, most of the Noble initiates didn't like him, rather their fear of necromancy and lack of a personality led to a lot of clashes. He didn't mind those, he just grew bored of them. He had kept some of his biggest opponents alive on missions, even carried the mission. Why? He had grown bored with the rivalries.

And now, those rivalries he was bored with, had leverage on them. And many of them, had issues with Kristen. In time, he hoped that would change. That someday, they would be able to let their secret come to life. But these were worries for a dark night or a different day, not for this one. Not for the day they realized what was most important in their lives.

He walked with the usual confidence, keeping close, like he always did, grinning. To the outside observer, there was nothing new, maybe a few more glances at Kristen, but any guy from the Academy would be giving her extra attention today. And that, was on par for his reputation.

She then asked a question and he couldn't help the smirk. "Oh.. something tells me Evie is having fun, possibly Zael." He shrugged. "Dont know nor care enough about Henk to comment and well, Chas has a good time wherever she is." He looked around for a moment. "Why, did you want to find them after the portrait?"

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

"I was merely curious," Kristen said with a little shrug. "I'm sure they're having a wonderful time too! If we so happen to cross paths with them, then it will be so. If not, this too would be fine."

Through the crowd they walked. All manner of things vied for their attention: the smell of confections wafting in from stalls strewn all about the Square, a stream of children all wielding wooden swords raised triumphantly above their heads running past, a dramatic reenactment of the climatic confrontation between Archon Isbrand and Dreadlords Talus, Zana, and Sloan. But in time they navigated their way to the fountain upon which sat the first artist Drast had spotted.

A wiry man, with flecks of gray in his black beard and hair. He wore a flat cap, his long sleeves were rolled up to the elbow, and he had this tick of poking the very tip of his tongue out of the corner of his mouth whenever he was making a particularly fine line on the canvas with his brush. Before him was a couple, younger than the artist but still middle-aged, standing still and side-by-side holding one another as he painted.

"He seems..to be very committed and concentrated," Kristen remarked. Of course she couldn't help but to notice that tongue peeking out here and there, and it had brought a smile to her face (a smile which, in its shifting and twisting, seemed to be holding in a little giggle).

Drastus Tal'deneshaar

 

[Drastus Tal'deneshaar]

"Sounds good to me." He would say, just giving her a look, one of those special ones. Instead of a hand reaching for hers, his hand went into his pocket, but the look remained.

They carved their way through the stalls, his eyes scanning each one in search of anything impressive looking. So far, nothing. Until they passed a mage with a certain food.. an edible.. cloud? That was colored? And flavored?!

He bought two. He didn't even ask flavors, just got em. As he made the purchase he quirked a brow, two rows over Chas and a kid were eating something. Evie and Zael were... close? He grinned. "Atta girl." He mused before taking his puffy loot and rejoining Kristen.

Kristen would be busy looking elsewhere before a pink cloud on a stick entered her line of vision. "For you, Lady Pirian." He mused with a smile. "Question: does Chas have a ki-." He would cut himself off. "Nevermind its not important."

They passed through the horde of little bastards with wooden swords, and though he had a disdain for children, he watched Kristen's reaction through it all. If they were something she wanted, he would have to get used to that idea. There wasn't a single plan or dream he would keep her from.

Finally, they found the artist, and Drast had had enough of his tasty cloud, so he offered the rest to Kristen. "Want it? I can't eat all this." He then got curious and, before acting, he would take Kristen's wrist and walked behind the couple, giving the artist a ridiculous look. He would then look to Kristen as if to have her make a weird look too. The artist would seem to push that tongue further before he began to paint furiously elsewhere on the page. Those eyes drifted from the parchment to the couple.. or was it Drast and Kristen? He would stand like that for five minutes, trying to keep Kristen in place. He held the ridiculous look, before continuing on to circle around to the painter.

He would bite back a laugh as the painter adjusted his seating, before Drast hurried back to her side, his hand moving her along to the next artist. "Guy is amazing but he makes the heads look so weird. You looked great though."

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

What a most peculiar confection this was. Kristen had not seen its like before! She was mostly eager and curious about it, this puffy, wispy ball propped on the end of a stick like a candied apple, but there was just the tiniest touch of nervous fear as well. It looked like a tangled spider's web! What if she didn't like it?

"Oh, the creativity of the confectionary arts!" Kristen said, almost as a mantra to prepare herself, and then took a bite.

Strange (at first)! But good! Very sweet though. Incredibly sweet! She wasn't used to it, not this level of sugar anyway, and her teeth throbbing with a brief and light uncomfortableness before it settled and dissipated.

Question: does Chas have a ki-

"Ehmm?" Kristen, her mouth full of cotton candy, rumbled her inquisitive response from her throat. But Drastus said nevermind, and she went back with delight to finishing her swirl of the peculiar confection.

Then they had come upon the first artist. Kristen politely turned down the offer of more cotton candy ("'Twas rich enough in sweetness to count for many treats in one"), and Drastus...had an idea. With a hand on her wrist he brought them behind the posing couple. And a most bizarre face he made! Kristen's own came out to be awkward, caught between mirth and uncertain anxiousness—and her eyes kept darting around too, wondering if the couple had or had not noticed.

He delivered his report after a sampling gaze of the artist's work. As they started again, she commented gaily, "Great even with a weirdly-shaped head! I shall catalogue this in my archive of strange yet wonderful compliments!"

A wise decision though. Why not have a look at the talents of the artists and decide whose style they fancied the most?

Drastus Tal'deneshaar

 

[Drastus Tal'deneshaar]

To Drast, it was witchcraft, the candy they ate. He watched her eat it, silently hoping she'd enjoy it. He knew hard moments lie ahead and he just wanted to make sure everything was as close to perfect as possible before life botched it.

When she didn't want his witchcraft on a stick, he casually handed it to some little kid that walked past them. He should have put a metal shard in it.. too late!

She seemed to enjoy their little roguish act which brought him endless delight. She was corruptible, in a small insignificant way. "So you should. Even the oddly sharpened, yet bulbous curvature of your mighty noggin could not be portrayed in an unpretty manner. Your beauty exceeds the slights of men." He praised, finishing with his faux posh accent.

They would cut through another few rows of tents to where in front of a bar, a woman clad in scandalous attire (might even make Kristen blush) worked effortlessly in creating a portrait of a younger couple. She was clearly using magick with each stroke of the brush for the portrait looked nearly life-like. "What do you think of her?"

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Your beauty exceeds the slights of men.

"A lovely turn of phrase," Kristen said, impressed even though it had been said in lighthearted humor and with an exaggerated aristocratic affectation.

The next artist certainly took...liberties with her attire. Though it wasn't that which marked her as a foreigner, but the open use of magic in assisting the strokes of her brush. Interesting! Such utilitarian uses of magic left a number of nearby Anirians befuddled, and, truthfully, Kristen was one among their number.

"What do I think of her talent for painting, or what do I think of her?" She let the question linger in the air for a moment, then poked her fingers into Drastus's side—a friendly, joking gesture, of course—and grinned.

"So long as she does not paint me in her choice of garb, then I would say that her paintings are gorgeous."

Drastus Tal'deneshaar

 

[Drastus Tal'deneshaar]

"A turn of phrase that bears my own, personal belief." Drast would say with a look and a tone earnest enough to reassure her. The voice was the jest, not the content.

His arms crossed as he watched this next artist. He supposed to those being painted they never quite noticed she was using magic. So at best, all he could do was shrug. But Kristen's next words would make him blanch.

What do I think of her talent for painting, or what do I think of her?

"The painting!" He blurted out, almost aloud, then lower so only she could hear. "I only have eyes, for you.. and ya know, I'm going to make myself feel better that the same goes for you." He teased with a grin at the last part.

"Oh yeah. I definitely prefer that dress to whatever she could concoct." It was a totally biased statement, as he picked it out for her in Vel Numera. But nobody knew that aside from them, and so his words were accompanied by another look. "I think she would do great if she stays true to the look."

Kristen Pirian

 

[Lynus Anireth]

Lynus apparently completely forgot that he was here....

A muscle feathered under the stubble of his jaw as he stared at Erich, listening to him apologise for letting him believe that he was dead all these years. Would sorry ever really cut it? His siblings had been taken from him, Erich too, and then everything else... There was only so much one man could take.

He swallowed whatever impulsive thing he'd been about to say and cleared his throat, glancing down at Amelia as she invited the man to dine with them. She meant well, he knew that, but he couldn't help but wish she hadn't. He wasn't ready for this.

"I, think I've had enough for one day." he grumbled quietly and nodded to his guards who readied the carriage once more. He turned to Amelia again. "If you wish to stay and enjoy the festivities, please do. Arryn can escort you to find your sister.." he offered quietly. Another weary dip of his chin was directed toward Arryn and Erich, and whether Amelia chose to join him or remain, he'd make his way back to the keep without another word.

 

[AmeliaPirian]

Amelia nodded slowly at Erich with a look of apology on her face. She looked at Arryn once then walked off with her husband. She had made her choice to stay by his side today and every day going forward. She would do just that.

Amelia slipped her hand into Lynus’ as they walked and squeezed once. All the agitation from Elise’s visit earlier seemed to have faded away.

She would make a point to either go to the Academy or have Kristen brought to the Keep.

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Kristen glanced down and lightly plucked at the dress she wore, reflexively admiring it. Simple and understated, nothing that would make her stand out among the crowds of the commonfolk but something that would certainly stand out in her own closet back home. The modesty made it endearing (though the ruby pendant she wore offset some of it). And, of course, the fact that Drastus had gifted it to her to commemorate what success they did find in Vel Numera.

Hmmm. Vel Numera. It had been the start of many things, had it not?

"I concur. And I do like the style this artist has. 'Tis like a slice of life captured and put onto canvas! It would be hard to beat."

She pressed the tip of a finger into Drastus's arm, taking a small second to appreciate its firmness.

"And I do think she would have the skill to properly represent all of your visible tattoos."

Drastus Tal'deneshaar

 

[Drastus Tal'deneshaar]

He noticed her pluck at her dress and his gaze fixed on her, it was hard to tell what was going on in her mind, but he did know of that dresses connection to her others, this was one of the few she could wear at the academy. His thoughts then drifted to their time in Vel Numera until he felt a poke of her finger.

Looking at her finger pressing into his arm, he would be lying if he ever refused flexing to make his arm feel bigger for her. "Yeah? You want the detail of all the tattoos? Even the ones on my neck? Even.." his voice trailed but two fingers gestured to his scars.

Kristen Pirian

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

Red and blue make you.

Purple.

Everleigh kept the lighthearted look on her face, looking at Zael as he ate. But for her, her appetite had shriveled up, her stomach dropping down low in her gut and mouth going dry. Purple. The worst color. She hated no color more than the color that screamed out “look at me! Watch out! I’m poisonous! Poisonous and purple!” The color that had people asking her if she was a elf. The color that, in Everleigh’s quite conceited opinion, made her go from a Anirian ten to a Anirian seven. Ugh. How lame.

“You can have the rest.” Everleigh said with a smile, handing the paper bowl of flavored ice over to Zael. She then looked around. She didn’t see Chasmine or any of the others. A part of her wanted to leave and go back to her room at the academy, which was strange. She didn’t understand how a few words could make her feel such anxiety, a sort of trepidation that made her think if she stuck by Zael’s side only worse things could happen.

She looked down at her hand, the one that Azzy had held without fear.

What a weird kid. Touching her as if she were normal. Without realizing it she scoffed, and after it was too late, she got a determined look in her mauve eyes. Rolling her shoulders back and cracking her neck, standing up straighter and more alert than she had been before.

“You know what I’m missing?” She said suddenly, her face perking up into her usual devious look, giving Zael a impish glance. “The festival is fun and all but… where’s the excitement? The rush of adrenaline?” She was grinning now, a wide grin that would fit a hungry predator more than it would a young woman with delicate features. “Zael, let’s have some real fun. So… pick one… truth or dare?”

Zael Castomir

 

[Kristen Pirian]

"Of course!"

Kristen smiled, the gesture coming along with a hint of pain to accompany it, for she ached greatly to reach over and touch his neck, his face, to assuage with her hands as much as with her words. But she could not. Not here.

"I want you to be on that canvas, Drastus."

Drastus Tal'deneshaar

 

[Drastus Tal'deneshaar]

Her reaction was more than enough to dispell any doubt. Her smile bore more than her outer beauty, it carried with it the weight of her inner beauty. Her ache to reassure him screamed through her eyes and he just gave her a knowing smile.

I want you to be on that canvas, Drastus.

He still couldn't believe it, but hearing that made his smile flicker to a grin. "And I, you."

Movement caught his eye and the couple before them seemed to be finishing up. They had their canvas in hand and admired it as they walked. The painter then looked at Drast and Kristen. "Good afternoon, what can I do for the young couple?"

Kristen Pirian

 

[Chasmine]

"What did you find?"

Question of the day, it seemed. There was so much to find at the festival! The child looked eager as he meandered up to another vendor and Chasmine stood alongside him watching the process of the decadent treat being made before them. It smelled wonderful ... like a bouquet of flowers arranged around Belinda's morning croissants. But sweeter than honey ... almost like nectar, and sweeter still!

"What is that?" she asked finally.

"Funnel Cake," said the vendor.

Chas exchanged a glance with her companion and at his excitement smiled, "One please."

She handed over a few copper coins and took the treat in her free hand, then leaned in to give it a good long sniff, "It smells wonderful - oh, but it's quite hot. Perhaps we should make our way to the river to release the fish and it will cool along the way?"

Azzerin

 

[Azzerin]

They had sidled on up to the vendor and Azzy just gazed in awe, his mouth hanging open in disbelief at this funnel cake. As the vendor responded with the name, Azzy would mouth along with it, though no voice would accompany it.

The nice one, Chasmine, then looked to him and ordered one! Behold! The cake of funnels! Or the funnel of cakes? Either way it was both or neither all at once! All he knew was that they had succeeded in acquiring one of these delicious smelling snacks!

She offered up another adventure they could go on and he would excitedly hold onto any free hand or excess clothing item before nodding vigorously. They were going on an adventure!

And just like that, the pair were off to the river, away from the crowds, away from the noise. Away from onlookers who could bare witness to their liberation of these poor trapped Fae.

Chasmine

 

[Zael Castomir]

"Damn, tryin to kill me already," Zael said. He took the paper bowl and scooped another spoonful of flavored ice (ooo, blueberry) into his mouth. He spoke with a sloppy grin, his mouth half-full and his words muffled, "But I. Am. Durable! That's right! A little cold can't keep me—"

Brain freeze.

"—fuck—"

Goddamn that hurt.

"—can't keep me down!"

Everleigh's smile had concealed her inner emotions well. Zael hadn't the slightest reason to see past it. He continued put out the red, blaring alarm of the super spiced jerky with the flavored ice, sparing one last fleeting thought over the rhyme (hey, red and blue, those were the colors in the War Games, fuck yeah, we trashed the reds) before Everleigh interjected with something new.

Zael looked up from the bowl of flavored ice in his hand—only the purple ball of it remained. A lifting of his brows. And then a grin. Truth or dare, huh? Hmmmmmmm. That sounded like a simple enough game, but one probably with some deep, deep mischievous depths—a real Ever classic.

Alright. So. Think it through. Obviously the choice is dare. Why the fuck wouldn't I dare? Zael fuckin Castomir right here, no one dares harder than I do. Not in the Academy, not in Vel Anir, not in all of Arethil. But wait. Wooah for a second there, stallion. Chargin right in is what I do best, but it ain't all I do. See, Ever knows I'm gonna say dare. So why not get a little sly, right? Spice it up like this jerky. Fuck brain freeze. Spice it up and say—

"Truth."

Damn that grin of Ever's is somethin else. Too bad mine's better. Heh. Goddamn, I'm fuckin gettin taken down a peg in punishment week and it's gonna suck so good.

Everleigh Ebersol

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Curse the Academy. Curse whoever it was, long ago, that thought the absence of love, rather than its presence, somehow made one more strong. She and Drastus had hugged and kissed on the solitary rooftop for a time that was both long and far too short, and now she only wanted to do so again.

But in public, with her mind currently in charge over her heart, its sound reason keeping at bay the warmth of passion, they had to leave it at that. And I, you.

The artist looked to them, and though it pained her to say, "Friends," she hid it well. A necessary feat, to learn how to be less earnest when needed. For her sake. For Drastus's sake. For their sake.

Then, with a smile, "Might we pose for a portrait? We saw your style and adored it. 'Tis like a moment frozen in time, captured and cherished. Do pardon my gushing!"

Drastus Tal'deneshaar

 

[Drastus Tal'deneshaar]

He knew the response before she said. He had prepared himself to hear it.. and then Kristen said it.

Friends.

And by the gods was that hard to hear. There would be the faintest flicker in his usual smile. A chip in the old facade. But it was gone as quick has it appeared.

But nobody could know, at least not yet. Despite there being top Dreadlords with kids or family of some kind, or he was sure some lines bred their Dreadlords to make the strongest possible magickal bloodline. "Just friends." He would add to Kristen's statement.

The artist eyed them both before offering a friendly smile. "I would love to hear some more of that praise." She joked with a wink. "Alright you two friends, strike a pose and let's see what magick, we can create." She gesture to the bench before her.

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

Everleigh watched Zael. She always seemed to be watching him, and in truth, it was hard for her to tear her eyes away from him. Even back at the academy, whenever she walked into a room she had a bad habit of cataloguing everything in sight. Somehow she always saw Zael first as if they were the only two things in that room.

Her gaze lowered down to the bowl. He had eaten everything but the purple bit. Her smile faltered, a sense of melancholy settling over her. Drastus was wrong. Everleigh decided. She was right, had been right all along. And of course she was right—when wasn’t she? Her face was resigned to accept a sort of hopelessness that she had never felt before. Drastus was on her side, and that thought was nice in itself. But he was wrong. About everything.

And sometimes she could be wrong as well, because Zael had chosen truth. Everleigh inwardly felt a moment of disbelief. She had only dares at the ready. But truth?

“Sheesh, you knucklehead,” she said softly, taking the shaved ice away from Zael. “I know I’m strong but if I have to carry you back to the academy it’s still going to take awhile. Let’s just throw it away, you ate the good part anyway.” That faint smile trembling ever so slightly as she thought about what she should ask him. Something simple so he would say dare next? Something risqué and stupid to also lower his guard? Maybe something embarrassing or punishing?

You’re scared of me, aren’t you?

Everleigh paused for a moment, looking down at the purple ice that was melting. Now that was a question. Others popped up just like it. What type of women do you like? Do you think I’ll poison you? Do you think I’m pretty? Why are you afraid of me? Why don’t you touch me like everyone else? Are you afraid of me killing you? What girl at the academy do you like the best? Would you kill me? Would you let be stand by your side? What do you think of me? Do you think purple is ugly? Do you think I’m ugly?

You’re scared of me, aren’t you?

Everleigh took a deep breath, her heart beating with trepidation, feeling the hairs on the back of her neck and arms beginning to rise. Why did it feel like everyone was watching her, judging her? No one knew her thoughts anymore, her mind was safe. But then why such fear? Such dread? Such shame?

“Where do you see yourself in five years?” Everleigh, for once, had folded. Not due to some plan to make a bigger comeback, or folding to drop suspicion. She had folded because she was scared. “And just so you know, I’ll go with dare.” Anything to distract her from this feeling.

Zael Castomir