Friendship

(Zai's POV)

After we got a fresh taste of freedom, I became a hero to most of my brothers. Raijian evaded capture longer than the rest of us, so he was the last to return. He only heard about the beating I took—and the "special attention" from Tana—secondhand. When he found out, he was furious. Foolishly, he confronted the King on my behalf, insisting the wall-breaking incident was an accident, ending his speech with:

"Loyalty is much better at controlling people than fear—and if you keep going down this path, no one will dare be loyal to you."

He was beaten and thrown into solitary confinement.

Raijian is the King's only biological son among the Chosen Seven. So why is he the only one who's ever stood up for me?...It doesn't make any sense.

"You seem distracted," Tana noted, gently stroking my shoulders. I swatted her hands away. Even though her face was hidden behind a ruband—to make it easier to look at her—I could still read the hurt in her body language.

"I am distracted. I'm worried about my brother."

She perked up instantly. Of course she knew who I was referring to.

"Are you and the other young prince becoming close?" she asked.I didn't answer. She tried to hug me, and this time I let her.

"If you want to see him, I can make it happen. I have access to the room he's in," she offered. I turned to her and kissed the space between her eyebrows.

"That would make me happy."

She jumped up to get dressed, eager to fulfill my request. This was the third favor I'd asked of her. Once she was ready, she urged me to follow her through the halls to Raijian's cell. She removed her face coverings so the guards would recognize her, but the moment they saw me, they drew their weapons.

"He should be in his room," one of them stated.

"He's with me, on an important assignment. I'm the King's most trusted advisor, so you'd be wise to trust me too."

The guards hesitated, still eyeing me."Our instructions were—"

Before he could finish, her hand closed around his throat—and she tore his head off like it was nothing. Blood sprayed across the floor. The second guard panicked, stuck between fight and flight. But with just a look, she tore him in half.

She sighed. "I told them to trust me. V won't care if I kill a few dumb guards anyway. I've got a mess to clean up. Go see your brother."

I stepped past the carnage, picked up a key from one of the corpses, and unlocked the dark cell.

Raijian was suspended by his wrists, bound by power-suppressing chains. His wounds weren't healing. His body was covered in scars.

"Hey..." I said, and he raised his head to look at me.

"Hi." His reply was oddly casual for someone in his condition."You've got a lot of blood on you," he commented.

"It's not mine. But you also have a lot of blood on you."

"I wish it wasn't mine." I let out a quiet chuckle, and he smiled. I sat cross-legged in front of him.

"Why did you stand up for me?" I asked. "He was going to let you off easy if you just kept your mouth shut."

"I wanted to piss him off."

I laughed. "You definitely did that."

He laughed too."Also... because I want to be your friend."

I looked up at him."Friends?"It's comforting to think of having an ally here, but… can I really trust him?

"I can't lie," he said. "So you should know I mean it."

Is that the Right he gave up?

"Fine," I said. "Let's be friends. As your friend, should I get you down?" I stood.

"No. I'm expected to be chained all night. It would put you in a bad position."

I scratched my head. "Well... the guards outside your door are already dead."

He stifled a laugh. "Did you do that?"

I shrugged. "Maybe I did." Then I reached up and touched his foot, using my power to send signals to his brain and numb his pain.

"My first act of friendship. I'll talk to you more tomorrow."

I left, relocked the door, and returned the keys. Tana disposed of the guards and altered the scene to make it look like they had deserted their post. She also tampered with surveillance. Since the cell was locked when they found him, no one questioned Rai for long. He was returned to his room that night, and when we were alone, he snuck into mine and laid beside me.

"What are you doing?" I asked. I wasn't asleep—but no one had shared a bed with me since I was a child. It felt... awkward.

"I wanted to talk. I can't sleep. Oh—were you going to sleep?"

"No," I sighed. "I was going to stare at the ceiling and imagine leaving this place and never coming back."

"I'll join you, then." He laid on his back beside me, staring up as well.

"I'm glad you're healed up," I said.

"I'm glad you care," he replied. "I have a blood brother, but... to me, you and the other five are my real family."

I smiled softly."Then we can be brothers and friends..."

Tana knocked on the wall beside the door and gestured for me.

"It's time for your extra lessons," she whispered.

"He doesn't want to go! What the hell is wrong with you? Stop bothering him!" Rai shouted, sitting up in bed.

We were all stunned. Even Tana looked surprised... though more awestruck than offended.

I stood and said, "No, Rai... it's fine." I followed her out. But inside, my heart... felt warm. His outburst gave color back to my world—if only a little.

Inside her hut, she erected a soundproof barrier, removed her clothes, and picked up her ink and brush.

"We never got to start last time."

She was referring to the time I convinced her to kill my tormentors first... or the time I told her I couldn't perform unless I didn't see her face. She'd compromised by creating a scarf. The last time, I'd been too upset over Rai's situation to continue. I was out of excuses.

She began painting marks identical to the ones that had appeared on my right arm.

"I'm sorry... I'm ready to go through with the ceremony today. I promise."

She looked up. I turned my eyes away. Her face is hard to look at. During the war, she fought against her sisters on the King's side. Her face was destroyed... so she replaced parts of it with her deceased sister's.

After an hour, she finished painting and put on her head covering.

"Just focus on my body," she said. "Don't be nervous. I'll guide you through whatever you don't understand." She placed my hand on her breast.

I swallowed my disgust. "Thank you, Tana... I'm so glad to have you on my side." I squeezed harder than I should have.

"Too hard!" she gasped.

I laughed and moved my hands to her hips. "Guess I got too excited. Let's begin."

She guided me through everything. She scolded me gently when I was too rough, praised me when I did well.

When it was over, the tattoos became permanent. A new mark appeared below my eye. She told me my lightning affinity had improved—I could now see energy and absorb it. I could also detect lies.

"I find Raijian interesting," she said, draping herself over my shoulders. "Would it bother you if I trained him too?"

I frowned. "I don't care. But it's up to him."I should warn him, I thought. As a friend.

"Oh, don't be jealous. You'll always be my favorite." She kissed my neck. "It'll be hard to beat the King alone. Raijian cares for you... I want to make him strong too."

"Do what you want," I replied quickly. She pouted."You're right," I added. "My allies should be strong."

I dressed quickly. "I need to return to my room. It's nearly breakfast."

She started talking to Rai whenever she could get him alone. He didn't tell me what was happening, but I knew. He gained his second tattoo, then another mark under his opposite eye... and one on his forehead.

Eventually, he could read all our brothers' minds—except for mine and Rytem's. And the thoughts of the servants too.

I didn't sleep with Tana again. She offered. I pretended to be jealous and declined. Reading minds isn't something I want—and touching her again didn't appeal to me.

A month later, she pulled me aside after class, eyes glistening with tears.

"Do you hate me? If there was another way to do the ritual just as quickly, I'd take it, believe me! You're the only one I actually care about, Zai. You have to believe me."

Her words were tangled in lies. Something I never would've noticed if she hadn't given me this power.

"If I'm being honest... it's not just jealousy. I hate living here. I have to take orders from the man who murdered my father. I can't see myself being with you until the King is dead. Then... maybe... we'll both be free."

She hugged me.

"I am trying to make that happen! I'm just... shocked. I never thought you'd want to be with me."

She was right. There's no way I'd be okay being bonded to her forever.

I always feel like I need to stay far away from her.