Episode 3 Part 2 Sneak Peek #2

A section from Melchior's friendship ending, with flavour text for an MC who did gain romance points with him but did not pursue his tryst scene. 

A door creaks open.

Reacting on instinct, you rise to your feet and fall into a defensive stance. Your muscles tense, a hand curling into a fist. A moment later, the door snaps closed and a familiar face peers around a pillar.

Kit stands on uneasy feet, her curly black hair a dishevelled halo around her head and a sallow colour creeping across her cheeks. Dressed in someone else’s shapeless tunic and mismatched robe, with old makeup smeared around her eyes, she looks like she is in desperate need of a hangover remedy. Not one to give in that easily, she steadies herself against the pillar, smooths down her rumpled clothes, holds her head high, and marches barefoot across the courtyard.

“Good,” she says, making a face as she picks her way across the cool tiles. “You’re awake.”

You exhale and let yourself relax. “What’s wrong?”

She tosses a curtain of unbound curls over her shoulder. “Define wrong for me, please,” she says irritably, resting her hands on her hips. “There’s a woman with a sword and a nasty temper in the suite. She says she’s looking for you. Sabriel’s stalling—do you need a way out? Just say the word and we can handle it.”

Your brows drawn together in confusion. “Woman? What woman?”

She grimaces and flaps her hands. “Human, black clothes, ashen hair,” she replies hurriedly. “Could probably kill with a look. Sabriel thinks she’s Lady Anaxas’ bodyguard.”

Shit.

You pass a hand across your face. She must mean Malsara. She was tasked with collecting you the morning of the mission. Looks like she’s found you.

“It’s fine,” you grunt, pushing past her. “I’ll handle her.”

She seizes your arm as you walk by, pulling you to a stop, and flinches as her magic seeps out of her. “So, she’s expected,” she remarks. “Could have mentioned it and saved us the scare. But I won’t pry into a Wayfarer’s affairs. Far too complicated and dangerous for little old me, I imagine.”

“What are you on about?”

“Oh, nothing. Only that I must admit I’m a little surprised. When he showed up with you on his arm last night, I expect the pair of you to—ah, shall we say… go places. If you take my meaning.”

Annoyance prickles in your chest. You would be a fool not to acknowledge that Melchior has an air about him that makes him deadly attractive. You would be even more of a fool not to acknowledge that you’re very close to falling for it. But you have your principles—there may have been a moment for it last night, but it wasn’t something you were keen to act upon. “That’s quite the assumption you’ve got there.”

“Not without reason, darling. Melchior has a history of these things. To put it plainly, he enjoys the company of others. He’s intrigued by people, regardless of their personal histories, associations, or social standings. Intimacy is how he shows that interest. I suspect all of us thought he would seduce you by night’s end. You certainly spent enough time out here alone.”

“No seduction, thanks. But maybe I did make a friend.”

“A friend?” She raises an eyebrow, a strange smile on her lips. “Frankly, that’s a relief. Melchior is a poor person to set your heart on. If it didn’t work for Lyr, it will work for no one.”

“You sound like you don’t approve of him.”

“You misunderstand me. I love Melchior dearly. I would put my life on the line for him if it came to that. But many misunderstand him and his intentions, through no fault of their own. Or his. Melchior moves at his own pace, in his own way, and the rest of us simply do our best to keep up.”

You pause, uncertain what to make of her words—or if there’s any point on fixating on them. You don’t know how you feel about Melchior. And considering you don’t plan to stay in Velantis for very long, it’s not like you’ll have time to figure it out.