Chapter Forty Five


    "I''m sorry for not inviting you to join me." I apologize.


    "I am not hungry, but you are."


    I wiped my mouth with the paper towel before cing it back on the tray.


    "You must be disgusted..."


    "No. I''m not." He said, walking to me and taking the tray, I gripped his sleeve. "She cannot know, please... She would punish me for this."


    He nods, but the slight confusion is clearly written across his face.


    He took the tray away and returned to his position; he didn''t say another word. I waited and waited for


    Julia to walk in and tell me how she had tried testing me and I failed, but she never dide in.


    Even as the night came.


    In the ninth hour, I turned off mymp, shut my book, and headed to the bathroom. I took a quick wash before changing into my nightgown.


    I returned to the room.


    "You are not from here, are you?" I asked.


    "No. He answered. I''m from the North."


    "I don''t hear much about the North."


    "It''s far from here and surrounded by humans."


    "Are you a werewolf?"


    "No. I''m not."


    "Why did you choose this ce? You could have gone to any other ce- ces with much, much more fun and yet here you are.


    "I wanted to be a soldier."


    "You know, it''s strange that the Empress entrusted me to you."


    "That decision had left a number of soldiers sore. I guess she believes I have what it takes to protect you." He said, and I thought I saw him smirk.


    "You don''t look like a soldier." I said to him,


    "I don''t? Then what do I look like, Aliya?


    "A... a powerful person."


    Heughed-he actuallyughed. He must have thought me a stupid person. Why would I say that? "I''m sorry.


    "There''s nothing to be sorry about. I find you funny, Aliya.


    I smiled. "You always call me by my name.


    Chapter Forty Five


    "Would you like me to refer to you as the ''god of light''s Chosen?"


    "No. I like it... when you call me by my name."


    I had never spoken this much to any soldier-or man-before.


    I turned away, headed to my bed. Usually the soldiers spend the most of their nights ''watching'', I felt bad for Trian, he would have to stand there all night.


    Two more days passed, and unfortunately, I hadn''t gathered the bravery to start up a conversation with him again. But today I got to leave the room. It was Friday, and usually I visited the library. That wasn''t the reason I was excited. I would finally see Ash.


    Trian escorted me to the library and waited outside. I couldn''t be more grateful. I went through the rows of books, but I was just putting on a show. I wasn''t interested in the books; I had many back in my room, many also which I hadn''t even opened.


    I traced the far corner of the library walls and finally found the lever. I pulled it, revealing the secret passage. Stepping into the darkness, I ran my hands along the uneven wall, feeling my way around. I took a right, followed by a left, and finally I could see the light. I ran forward and into the small garden. This has been my haven since I discovered it ''seven years ago, the garden wasn''t the only thing I discovered. That very same day, I found a loyal friend.


    I had no idea how he got into this ce, but I had been so happy to find the pup; he had be my only true friend. I tell him everything, and he listens. I know he does, even if he couldn''t speak.


    I had been sick of my room and the castle too; I wanted to escape. While I couldn''t escape through this hidden pathway, I could at least see the sky in full view. I wish I could spend my days here.


    The rain watered the nts-as no one everes here, and still the nts and flowers remained healthy. I spotted Ash, my wolf pet; he seemed to have been trying to hunt down something, but the moment he smelled me, he ran in my direction, knocking me off my feet. He licked my face, and Iughed, rubbing his soft gray fur- his fur color had been the reason I named him Ash.


    "I miss you too, Ash."


    I stared into his golden eyes. He was a miracle; the Aureonnas hated all animals that fell into the ''Hound Kin''- ranging from dogs, foxes, and wolves... They called them impurities, so it was a miracle I had found Ash in a ce like this.


    The hours easily passed by.


    I threw a stick, and he caught it, bringing it back to me. I threw it again, but this time he didn''t try catching


    it, his eyes drifted to something behind me, and he growled.


    I turned around to see Trian.