To Owe a Favor

Lillianna's POV

Hours later, loud voices filter back into the kingdom. Laughing and cheering as fae head back to their rooms. I bury my head into the mattress and cover my head with a pillow. Feeling worse and unable to sleep.

A loud crash echoes straight through my room that not even the pillow can stop. I grunt and turn to my side. I lifted my head out from under the pillow to stare at the wall, "Haven't they had a good enough night? Can't they just go to sleep?"

The door to my room slams open, crashing into the wall. I sit up, squinting against the light, but in his black clothes, I recognize Killian instantly.

A few steps behind him, peering into my room, is Yasmil.

There's a heavy silence between the three of us, and then I smile tightly, "What are you doing here?"

"What-" Killian starts, the question throwing him into motion until he stands right beside me. "What are we doing here?" Killian asks. "We searched that kingdom for hours trying to find you. How did you get here? Why didn't you wait to leave with us?" He all but demands me.

I shrug. Feeling hopeless with Yasmil standing right there too, "Prince Elik offered a lift."

"Well, that didn't take long."

I glare in confusion, "What is that supposed to mean?" I sit up straighter, kneeling on the bed to come closer to his height, "You're the one who left me alone at the ball!"

Killian shakes his head, "We're placed into groups, you stubborn woman. I didn't leave you, and then you ran off with that prince. After all that talk about making friends, you pick the one person who doesn't have your best interests in mind."

"Oh, and you have my best interest in mind? How long did it take for you to realize I was gone?"

Killian steps back, sending a side-long glance to Yasmil. Long enough. Distracted enough.

The doorway becomes even more crowded when Lona and Adrin step around Yasmil and into the room. They look confused, half-asleep, and annoyed.

Lona raises her arms, "Alright! All of you out of her room. And stop all this arguing in the middle of the night." She grabs her son's shoulder to forcefully push him out. Then, she looks to Adrin, who nods and stays with me.

Adrin closes the door and turns off the low lights to my bedroom. I collapse back onto my bed, stomach-first. Embarrassed and attempting not to cry.

"Lillianna, dear," Adrin sits on the edge of my bed, "Tell me what's going on."

"Please, just leave me alone," I murmur into my pillow, tears beginning to fall and soak into the bed fabric.

Adrin's hand falls on my back, and she rubs soothing circles on my shoulders until the worst of my cries subside.

"I just thought," I start but get embarrassed. Killian is her son. Adrin said herself that Killian is clear about what he likes and dislikes.

"Thought what, dear?"

"That I had a chance. But I think Killian is better off with his warrior friends, and I'm better off..." my sentence fades. With who? Random fae from the kingdom? I've only just met everyone from the royal warrior groups.

"Your still friends," Adrin says, "He clearly sought your safety tonight."

"You weren't there. At the ball," I clarify, "He was with Yasmil the whole time and they just- they just make so much sense together."

"When it rains it pours," Adrin mutters through a laugh. I tilt my head to the side, questioningly, but she just shakes her head, "I've never seen or heard Killi be interested in anyone. And now, I see how he is with you, but you tell me he's with Yasmil."

Her observation is distinctly lacking in Killian's true intentions. Does he plan to pursue Yasmil? After tonight, I wouldn't be surprised.

"I want my mom," I blurt out. I want my mom and my dad like before the awful truth about my origin came about. Their corny intelligence about the fae and the way they make me laugh.

Adrin sighs. Looking back at the closed door, before grabbing a piece of paper by my bedside table.

"I know it's against the King's orders, but your parents are nearby. They can't visit you, but if you can make the half-hour or so walk... maybe you can see them."

I look at the piece of paper she'd written on, finding a random home address.

Adrin smiles and bends over to kiss the top of my head, "Sometimes all you need is a mother's love."

Hopefully.