*******
"You're back."
Esme shot up from the bed the moment Donovan stepped through the door. She rushed to him, her hands fluttering anxiously as her eyes swept over him from head to toe. She turned his face to the side to check for any bruises, cuts, anything.
"Esme–"
"They hurt you, didn't they?"
Even though she found nothing, her heart refused to believe it. Something in his eyes, something unspoken, told her otherwise. It made the anger and the frustration she had been holding explode.
"What exactly do they even want from us?" she demanded. "We already told them the truth, didn't we? So why keep doing this– Why hurt you behind closed doors like that? If they were so righteous, they'd do it in front of everyone with convincing reasons. But that's not going to happen because all kings of today are the same— mad, hypocritical fools drunk on the power of their own crowns. Just wait till I–"
"Esme, hold on."
