Chapter 17: bigger than something

Chapter 17: bigger than something
The night after Onyx cornered me, I thought I’d finally have peace. But peace never lasted long in this house.
I was sweeping the gallery, pretending I didn’t feel the watchful eyes of the guards, when Skye called for me. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried the kind of weight that made the other maids instantly look away, as if they were pretending they hadn’t heard.
“Blair,” he said simply, standing by the balcony doors. His tone was calm, practiced. He wore his power like a tailored coat, never too tight, never slipping.
“Yes, Your Highness?” I replied, forcing my voice steady.
“Walk with me.”
My first instinct was to refuse, but my survival instinct reminded me what refusal would look like. So I followed him out into the corridor. The air was cooler here, the scent of rain rolling in through the open windows.
We walked in silence until he led me into one of the smaller studies. He shut the door gently, unlike Onyx, who treated doors like they were made to be destroyed.
“Sit,” he ordered, gesturing to a chair near the hearth.
I sat, stiff as stone. Skye remained standing, his hands clasped neatly behind his back. His profile was carved with restraint, every movement measured.
“I assume Onyx has already made himself clear,” Skye began. His voice was low, level, as though he was discussing weather patterns rather than my life.
I swallowed. “Clear about what?”
Skye’s eyes flicked to mine, sharp and calculating. “About his… attachment to you.”
I tensed, but didn’t answer.
Skye moved closer, leaning against the edge of the desk, folding his arms. “He is impulsive. Reckless. He acts out of instinct, not reason. That is his weakness. Mine is different—I do not let instinct rule me.”
His gaze pinned me. “That is why I must speak plainly. Whatever bond Onyx claims with you, it is not the only factor here.”
“What are you trying to say?” My voice came out small, almost hushed.
“I am saying,” he said smoothly, “that standing beside me benefits you far more than being dragged into his chaos.”
I blinked. “Benefits me?”
“Yes.” He said it without hesitation, like the word had been waiting on his tongue. “You are aware, I assume, of the scrutiny I face. I am the crown prince without a mate. In this court, that is seen as weakness. A vulnerability.”
He paused, studying me for a flicker of reaction. I gave him nothing, but inside my stomach twisted.
“I cannot afford such vulnerability. Not with Onyx breathing down my neck. Not with Morgana watching for the smallest misstep.” His tone hardened slightly. “But with you… the rumors would quiet.”
My lips parted, but no words came out.
He went on, relentless. “If the court sees you by my side, it sends a message. That I am not lacking. That I can command loyalty, and that my claim is stronger than Onyx’s. And in return…” He leaned forward, his voice softening, coaxing. “You would have protection. Security. You would not remain here as a servant, but as someone under my shield.”
The words should have sounded like salvation. Instead, they burned.
“So you want me to play the part?” I asked bitterly. “To pretend I’m yours when I’m not?”
His jaw twitched. “You could be. You could be more than some frightened maid hiding in corners.”
My chest tightened. “You don’t even see me, Skye. Not really. You don’t care what I want.”
He straightened, his composure cracking just slightly. “Do you think this is about caring? Do you think politics runs on affection?” His voice rose for the first time. “This is about survival. Power. I am offering you a place at my side, which is more than Onyx ever could.”
I stood, fists trembling at my sides. “No—you’re offering me a mask. You want me to be a shield for your reputation. That’s not protection, that’s using me.”
The firelight flickered across his face, highlighting the faint lines of tension around his eyes. He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “If I wanted to use you, Blair, I would not be giving you a choice. I am trying to give you dignity in this arrangement.”
I laughed, a harsh, broken sound. “Dignity? You want me to sell myself for status and call it dignity?”
His eyes flashed. “And what has your pride brought you so far? You scrub floors. You serve wine. You are a footnote in this palace, Blair. With me, you would be untouchable.”
The words hit harder than I wanted them to. Because a part of me did want to be untouchable. Safe. Seen. Not just a girl with a broom in her hand and fear in her chest.
But another part, the stronger part, knew exactly what he was doing.
“You don’t want me,” I said quietly. “You want the idea of me. You want a mate-shaped shadow to parade around the court. But I’m not a shadow, Skye. I’m a person.”
His lips pressed into a thin line. He searched my face, as if waiting for me to crumble. When I didn’t, he drew in a long breath and straightened again.
“Think carefully, Blair,” he warned, calm but edged. “Onyx wants you for the bond. He will never stop clawing at you. But with me, there is order. Stability. I can give you more than he ever will.”
I shook my head, tears stinging my eyes. “You both talk about what you can give me, but neither of you ever ask what I want.”
He stilled.
“I want freedom,” I whispered. “I want to stand on my own without being dragged into your games, without being anyone’s shield or prize.”
Silence hung between us. The fire popped in the hearth, filling the space where his response should have been.
Finally, Skye’s expression hardened back into marble. “Freedom,” he repeated, the word almost mocking. “In this palace, freedom is a dream. A dangerous one.”
He moved toward the door, his every step controlled. Before leaving, he looked back at me one last time.
“You will see, Blair. Dreams don’t keep you alive. Protection does. And when the walls close in, you’ll remember who offered it.”
The door shut softly behind him.
I sank back into the chair, my knees weak. My chest burned with anger and shame, but beneath it all, a cold dread spread through me.
Because he was right about one thing: I was trapped in their world.
Onyx wanted me as his mate. Skye wanted me as his shield. And I didn’t want either.
For the first time, I wondered if Aristea was right, if the only way out was to claim something bigger than both of them.