CHAPTER 34: CH 34: YOUR CHOICE - PART 2

The servant barely had time to flinch.

She’d turned to leave after delivering her report, footsteps light against the moss-covered stones of the garden—but the moment she moved, a pair of warm, velvet-clad arms wrapped tightly around her waist and yanked her backward.

She yelped as her feet left the ground, flailing helplessly until she was unceremoniously pulled into a lap that wasn’t hers.

"High Priestess Jenna! Let go! This is completely improper!"

The servant cried, wriggling as she tried to escape.

The red-haired woman leaned in, her chin resting lightly on the servant’s shoulder.

"Come now. You’re already here. Why not stay a little longer? Help me unwind. You wouldn’t deny your High Priestess a moment of comfort, would you?"

She said, her voice sweet and slow like honey.

One of her hands snuck around the waist before they reached for that tunic to try and feel more of the naked skin.

It made the servant panic even more as she struggled to get out of her hold.

"This isn’t comfort, this is harassment!"

Jenna gave a long, suffering sigh.

"Always so dramatic."

The servant twisted in place, trying to pry herself free, but Jenna only grinned, clearly enjoying the struggle.

It wasn’t until the servant abruptly kicked backward and used the motion to flip herself off Jenna’s lap that she managed to break free. She darted away, red in the face and thoroughly scandalized.

"Another one, gone. I swear, these girls are getting more prudish by the day."

Jenna muttered with a theatrical sigh, brushing her skirt smooth.

She leaned back against the tree with a grumble, gazing up through the leaves.

"Everyone’s so uptight lately. ’The world is ending,’ ’magic is fading,’ ’our goddess has abandoned us’—please. They act like one flicker in divine presence is the herald of doom."

She rolled her eyes.

She ignored the fact that what she did was harassment and had she been anyone else, she would have been charged for it...hard.

Jenna reached for her teacup and took a sip. Her lips curled in distaste.

"Cold."

Still, she smiled faintly and placed the cup aside, folding her arms behind her head. "But at least the letter reached the right hands. The pieces are finally moving."

Back in the comfort of their home, Kana sat sandwiched between Lysera and Irielle on the couch, a wool blanket thrown over her legs and a single untouched cup of tea resting in her hands.

Her shoulders were tense, caught between the rising tempers of the two women beside her.

"I still say you shouldn’t do it. She has no reason to get involved in any of this. It’s not her problem."

Irielle snapped, crossing her arms.

"She already is involved. Delran made that perfectly clear. Ignoring it won’t make it go away."

Lysera replied, tone sharp.

"Oh, and just because Delran showed up and barked some orders, you think that makes it Kana’s responsibility? You’re being manipulated, Lysera."

"And you’re acting like Kana can’t make her own decisions!"

Kana opened her mouth, but neither of them noticed.

"This is exactly what happened the last time you brought her into your mess. She’ll end up dragged along because you can’t say no to authority.""

Irielle continued, jabbing a finger toward Lysera’s chest.

"Better than letting her sit around and be a passive target for whatever’s coming!"

"Excuse me?"

"I’m right here."

Kana muttered, voice drowned under the bickering.

The argument was reaching a boiling point. Words flew. Hands gestured. And then, without thinking, Irielle grabbed a nearby pillow and flung it in Lysera’s direction. Lysera ducked. The pillow curved midair.

It hit Kana square in the face.

"Wh—!"

Kana let out a squeak and flopped backward off the couch, the force of the pillow (or maybe just the surprise of it) enough to knock her flat.

The loud smack and the following thud cut through the argument like a blade.

Both Lysera and Irielle blinked and turned toward the sound.

"Kana?"

"Oh no—Kana!"

They scrambled off the couch, crawling over to where she lay sprawled on the carpet, blinking up at the ceiling with a dazed look.

"I think I’m okay...That was just... startling."

Kana mumbled.

"I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—"

Irielle said, reaching out and fussing with her hair.

"She’s fine."

Lysera muttered, though her hand hovered near Kana’s shoulder.

Kana slowly pushed herself upright and looked between them.

"Maybe... maybe we should all sleep on this. Think about it again in the morning? With a clear head."

Both Lysera and Irielle exchanged a glance.

After a moment, they nodded.

"Fine. Let’s call it a night."

Lysera sighed.

"Fine."

Irielle echoed, though she gave Kana a small smile and leaned in as if to whisper something.

Lysera’s arm shot out, catching her by the collar.

"Out."

"I was just—"

"You were not going to sneak into her bed again."

"I was comforting her!"

"With your entire body. Get out."

Irielle groaned in protest as Lysera dragged her away, her heels skidding along the wooden floor as she clung to the edge of the couch.

"I have rights—!"

"Not in this house, you don’t."

Kana watched the chaos from her seat on the rug, finally cracking a tired smile as the door slammed shut behind the two of them.

She picked up the pillow and set it gently beside her.

The room, at last, was quiet.

Too quiet.

Kana glanced out the window at the dark horizon, unease curling low in her stomach.

Between the warrant, Sergeant Delran’s vague request, and the mysterious power shift everyone was whispering about lately, things were starting to feel more uncertain by the hour.

Still...

"I’ll pull through," she whispered to herself, echoing the words she’d said to Lysera earlier.

She just hoped she was right.

When Kana woke up the next morning, her eyes blinked open slowly to the quiet stillness of her room.

The first thing she noticed—besides the soft light filtering in through the curtains—was the distinct absence of weight on either side of her.

No arms wrapped around her. No playful breathing near her neck. No whispered "good morning" from Irielle or grumbling from Lysera.

Just silence.

She stared at the ceiling for a moment, her brain still waking up, before a faint frown tugged at her lips.

’Huh.’

She had half expected to find both of them in her bed, clinging to her like they usually did after something stressful. A ridiculous part of her even felt... disappointed.

Kana shook her head quickly and sat up.

’Nope. Not going there.’

There were more important things to focus on.

Like work.

She glanced at the clock. It was still early, but if she took her time, she could have breakfast and head out without rushing.

And besides, she’d already taken a full day off yesterday. She didn’t want to risk losing more time—especially when things were already starting to spiral beyond her control.

She pushed the blanket off and rose to her feet, shaking off the last of her sleep.

Her thoughts were still a little jumbled, but there was one thing she knew for sure: no matter what came next, she had to keep going.

Even if she had to do it alone.

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This will go premium tomorrow from Ch 32. So those of you who got to read these Chapters for free, I guess you’re lucky. You get 2 more free Chapters before it goes premium.