This is so boring.
I’ve lost my dopamine spike.
Who knows how long I’ve been stuck in this place? Days? Weeks? Months?
All I do is bathe, eat, dress, and stare at the sky. I’ve memorized every plant, every bird, every recipe. I’ve read the same three books so many times I swear the pages will scream if I touch them again. But I’m not allowed to get new ones. As if I’m some kind of spy.
As if he still doesn’t trust me.
And that stupid man—he’s been avoiding me ever since that night!
I thought things would change after he slept next to me, after he curled up like a helpless baby in my bed. But when I woke up in the morning, he was gone.
Like nothing happened.
I should have known better. What was I expecting from him? Special treatment? More freedom?
I almost forgot how he treated me in that war zone. A cold chill creep up my spine at the memory. I’m still traumatized, but at least this place is different—safe. Nothing here can trigger me. Even his presence feels different—his complexion, his energy—as if this place changes him too. Plus, this is a fantasy world; I should just enjoy myself.
Lost in thought, I lounge in my floating chair, my favorite spot in this suffocating palace.
That’s when I see them again.
Those two women.
The creepy ones. The ones the maids always gossip about whenever they pass by. I’ve been seeing them more and more lately.
What’s their deal?
I lean forward, watching them—
“Hey… hey, you!”
I freeze.
Am I hearing voices now? Have I finally lost it?
I pretend I didn’t hear anything—
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Ouch!
Something stings my forehead.
I blink. Did someone just throw a rock at me?!
I glance around for the source. Nothing. Just the open sky stretching endlessly beyond the egg-shaped terrace. The guards are gone.
That’s… odd.
They were here just moments ago, but then a maid I’ve never seen before called them away.
My heart pounds.
Something isn’t right.
And the moment I lean forward to investigate—
I’m airborne.
A force sweeps me from behind, yanking me into the sky. My breath catches as wind whips past me, and when I look up—
My stomach drops.
A giant hummingbird.
Ojan’s famous sky creature.
But why is it here?
These birds are supposed to be gentle. Harmless. Yet my heart races as I take in its enormous form—sleek feathers shimmering with iridescent light, its long, silver beak curving elegantly like a blade.
Could it be a weapon?
Panic floods my chest as I realize—I’m flying away from the castle.
Higher and higher, swallowed by the endless clouds. They surround me like thick mist, shifting as I reach out. My fingers pass through them—nothing but air.
Focus, Aly. You’re being kidnapped.
Minutes blur by in a haze of white. Then—
A floating land appears.
Beneath us, a vibrant city sprawls across the sky. Sounds, scents, colors—life. But we don’t stop. The bird carries me farther, beyond the city, to a land of colossal trees.
Then—
It lets go.
A scream rips from my throat as I plummet.
Is this how I die?! So lame.
But I don’t hit the ground.
Instead, I land on something soft. A nest.
A giant, empty nest.
Dazed, I struggle to process what just happened. My pulse thunders in my ears. And then—
A voice.
“I don’t trust her.”
A woman stands on the giant bird’s beak, leaning against its massive head. She’s… stunning. Powerful. And staring at me with pure hatred.
I barely manage to sit up before a deep voice rumbles from the ground.
“We’re not interested in your opinion, Emoni. You’ve done your part. You may leave.”
Her lips curl in disgust, but she obeys, leaping gracefully to the ground. As she stalks off, she tosses me one last scornful look.
She looks like a comic villainess with a serious attitude problem.
Before I can even process what’s happening, a hand reaches for me.
When did she get here?!
I never even felt her approach.
She grabs me by the waist—effortlessly—and jumps from the nest, landing on solid ground.
What kind of strength—?!
I barely have time to react before I notice them.
Dozens of eyes.
A group of breathtakingly beautiful women stands before me, their expressions unreadable. They’re dressed practically—simple tops and pants, accented by one-shoulder armor pieces.
I glance down at myself—my shimmering silk gown, delicate pearl crown.
I suddenly feel ridiculous.
They look like they’ve endured hardship.
And I look like a pampered princess.
“Wow. Looks like someone’s enjoying her pampered courtesan life.”
A mocking smirk comes from one of the women.
Heat rushes to my face. I drop my gaze, clenching my hands together.
“Enough, Simi.”
The blue-eyed woman who helped me down speaks, her voice sharp and serious.
“We don’t have time for this. We have a mission. Claudius might arrive any second.”
Claudius?!
My head snaps up.
That’s his name?!
The commander?
I stare at them again—really look at them.
They’re tall. Muscular. Their frames more like men than women at first glance.
And then it hits me.
I’ve seen women like this before.
The ones captured in the camp.
The ones from the war.
Confrontation in the Wild
The blue-eyed woman turned to me suddenly, her gaze sharp, her voice rushed and impatient—
“Did he sleep with you?”
My body tensed.
What kind of question was that?
I hadn’t even considered that someone would ask me something so private—especially in front of a crowd filled with nothing but hostility.
My throat tightened. When I tried to answer, no words came out.
“What do you mean?” I croaked, barely managing to speak.
Simi, the woman who had mocked me earlier, stepped closer. Her face twisted with disgust, her voice laced with cruel amusement—
“Did he f**k you?”
My breath hitched.
I snapped back, defensive—
“NOOOOOOO!”
My voice cracked, my vision blurred. Tears stung at the edges of my eyes.
The atmosphere was thick with hatred.
I could feel it suffocating me, pressing against my skin.
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