"In the end, we'll all become stories."

                      ~Margaret Atwood

Chapter 68

Storytime

River's POV

I sat beside the cell door, bread in hand as I peered through the bars at Sam as he spoke.

"And then," Sam snorted in laughter, "he just fell. Just like that. Right down the tree."

I nearly choked on my bread as I snorted, cupping my mouth as a few crumbs splurted out.

"Careful, careful," Sam laughed, raising his hands like a shield against pelleted bread pieces.

I shook my head, taking deep breaths as I quickly swallowed the bread before I could spray it all over Sam's armor.

When I finally pushed the last of the bread down my throat, I spoke.

"Was your brother okay?"

Sam's head tipped to the side, "well, no major injuries but I always do say his stupidity comes from bashing his head on the way down that tree."

I shook my head with another released laugh.

"And he agrees?" I raised a playful brow.

"Oh, Goddess no," he scoffed, "Matthew is as stubborn as a mule. He agrees to constantly disagree. You could be stating that...that," he points to my bread, "is bread and he'll somehow find a way to disagree with you."

I raised a brow, "that sounds annoying."

"Oh, it is," Sam sighed, "but that's just Matthew."

"Do you have any other siblings?"

"Nope," Sam said, popping the 'p', "just me and Matthew."

"Sounds like you guys are close," I smiled.

"Yeah, we are and ironically, though I may be the older one, Matthew has always been more of the father figure," Sam said, scratching the back of his neck, "y'know?"

I wasn't sure how to reply so I just nodded.

"So what about you?" Sam asked, "do you have any older or younger siblings?"

"No, I'm an only child," I picked at the bread.

"Ooh," Sam raised his brows, "got all the attention, huh?"

"Something like that," I swallowed with a quivered breath.

Loud, harsh footsteps filled the jailhouse, interrupting my solemn thoughts. Waves of anxiety filled the small space. Guards wrapped in armor and shield pressed against the walls, shying away from the looming figure growing closer and closer to my cell.

I lifted myself slowly from the ground, approaching the bars to view the figure. My eyes latched on a familiar hazel hue and my breath caught in my throat as my eyes ran over the darkening bags below his eyes. His jaw was set tight, fists tightly weaved like two whitened balls of anger.

Sam stepped forward, hands shaking slightly as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. He carefully turned the lock, snapping it open before quickly escaping to the nearest corner.

The figure rounded the corner, entering my small cell without a thought. My eyes lifted up to his face, brows pulling at the visible strain across his face. My hands reached up, cupping his face.

"What's wrong, love?" I whispered.

A released breath fell past his lips and he shook his head. His head dropped to my shoulder as his arms enveloped me, pulling me close as another choked sigh fell past his lips.

My hands fell from his face, lifting instead around his shoulders to grip tightly to his shirt as I pressed my nose to his chest. The bitter-sweet tang of cinnamon filled my very pores as a light kiss pressed against my collarbone. My fingers ran across his tense muscles, soothingly massaging them with the pads of my fingers.

I could only think of one reason for why Alastair would be so tense.

"Did they move my court date up?" I whispered in his ear.

His muscles clenched beneath my fingertips. His heart rate picked up, pumping harshly against my smaller form. My lips pulled between my teeth as I thought through my following words. Though none fell.

"I won't let them," Alastair's voice rasped low, "I won't let them touch you." His arms pulled me tighter against him.

"Sometimes," I swallowed low as my fingers ran lightly across his back, "there are going to be things that aren't in your control. You can fight and struggle...but there are going to be forces that will be above your will."

To that, his head swept up from my shoulder. His hands lifted from my waist to cup my face as his eyes searched mine, brows pinched.

"No," his voice rose, "don't you dare say that. Don't...think that."

His thumbs swept beneath my eyes, hands cradling my face like one would a precious stone as his eyes locked on mine and wouldn't let go.

"I will protect you," his voice hardened. "Nothing and no one can stop me."

With his eyes trained on mine, voice wrapping me in a protective quilt, I couldn't help but believe him. I felt safe within his arms, amidst his calming heat. Yet, somewhere within it all, a voice shook within me.

"River," Luna whimpered in the back of my mind.

It was one of the first words he had spoken to me in the past week and he sounded so afraid, so shaken up. My heart began to pound anxiously in my chest, fingers tightening its hold on Alastair's shirt as he cradled me close.

******

Sam eyed my form on the floor with a huffed breath, "you need to eat, Your Majesty."

My eyes dropped to the tray beside my feet with a sucked in breath.

"Sam?" My voice rasped quietly.

"Hm?" His eyes pulled from the tray.

"Can you tell me another story?"

He eyed me before scratching his neck with a resounding sigh, "sure," he looked both ways before crouching down. He pulled his legs to a pretzel position, scooting forward to the barred door so we were closer.

His elbows rested against his knees as he tipped his head to the side.

"So what kind of story do you want?"

I thought for a second before thinking of a funny story he had told me earlier, "another funny story about your brother."

"Hmm," he rubbed his temple momentarily before a choked laugh escaped his throat. "Oh, I've got a good one." He looked around him, tilting his head back before scooting closer to the cell. "So this is a more recent one from nearly...a year ago about. My brother was working at a nearby blacksmith while I was still training to be a guard. I wasn't making too much money yet so he had to take on a second job and...," Sam paused as he attempted to compose himself, nearly bursting out laughing. "And it was one day, during his few minute break that he bumped into a girl. Of course, it just happened to be his mate! The girl was dressed in rags, smelling worse than tuna fish, I tell yeah," Sam snorted. "So he takes her home with him, of course, and offers her a good bathing and clothes. Well," Sam leaned forward, nearly pressing his mouth to the bars, "my brother accidentally sees her naked while handing her a towel and," he ushers me forward with his finger, which I do with a raised brow, "the girl had a dick!"

My eyes widened. Sam doubled over, slapping his knees as he choked on his own laughter.

"I ain't shitting you," he choked out.

...It can't be.

"What did he do?" I managed out.

"Well," Sam wiped at his eyes, "he was pretty surprised at first. Nearly passed out. But my brother's never been one to prefer one gender over the other. He always liked sweets. No matter which kind," Sam winked.

My brows pulled together.

"They're one loving couple now. Can't even pull them away from each other really," Sam laughed.

My eyes dropped to the floor as my mind raced.

Could it be?

"Sam?"

"Yeah?"

I took a breath, "what is your brother's mate's name?"

Sam raised a brow, "Noah, why?"

My breath caught in my throat. My eyes widened.

"D-did he go by a girl's name originally by any chance?" My breath pulled tight as I awaited his answer.

"Yeah, I think so."

"Do you remember what it was?" I leaned forward.

He peered upwards with scrunched brows, "Ally? Ali...." his lip pulled between his teeth.

"Alice?" My voice shook.

"Yeah!" His lips pulled into a bright smile, "Alice. That's what it was. How'd you know?"

My hands shook as I cupped my mouth. I could barely contain myself as a shaky breath escaped my throat. 

"She was my best friend."