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As a servant placed a tray of teas on the table in front of him, Xan peered at his sister as she took hold of his hand

“What happened to you, Xan? Where were you?” she questioned, worry drawn on her face

Xan hesitated, unsure how er sister What he had been through was so he wouldn’t wish on his worst enemy Xan didn’t want to hurt her with more information than she needed about the five years it had been since he was taken Five years of his life stolen away Xan had had lost count of the days after a short tireat sadness in hidom to his mother and brother, a heavy burden to bear for someone who hadn’t been prepared from birth to assume that role

“I was captured, Yaris While ere on Bija, soon and I were cli happened to the rope When I awoke, I only saw Ragon’s bloody clothing and was captured by the Kirill They were there when I awoke, and they iasped and clutched her chest

“They enslaved you? But why? Didn’t they see your imperial brand?” She reached for his ar her to see She gave hiain Xan allowed her to take it this ti to her eyes again

The moment they’d removed the imperial brand from his arm was seared into Xan’s memory as if it had happened yesterday The slice of the knife against his skin as they flayed the area fro he had experienced before or since, not only because of the physical pain but also because he knew that without it, he was no longer safe Anyone ould do harm to so’s worth other than what he could give the his seal meant that they were unable to find value in hi This is what led Xan to believe that the rest of his family must have been killed, for they would have paid any amount of money to retrieve him, and the Kirill captain knew that

Out of the corner of his eye, Xan saw that Sloan atching the them space He appreciated it, but he wanted her near him as he spoke about his difficult ti his need, Sloan e where Xan and his sister were sitting, and she settled on his other side She placed he

r hand on his knee, and he put his hand over hers and squeezed it

Yaris’s eyes darted to their hands Xan wasn’t sure if she’d even noticed the hands when they met in the corridor He was sure their surprise reunion had overshadowed everything else in that ave his hand a squeeze of comfort back, and he retold his story—an abbreviated version

“I was held by the Kirill forI’ It was an extended period of time I told them that a ransom would be paid for me, but they assuredthat you were all dead by soave up on life I don’t knohy, but it see someone of iht, which kept me weak and unable to defend myself”

Xan heard Yaris suck in a tight breath “They also covered s onto theh that contact

“After a long ti as a servant, I was sold to another This person was not so keen on ladiator of sorts I was kept in a cell with others, fed and trained, and I fought regularly They placed bets on our fights and wagered on ould live and ould die”

“You fought others to the death?” his sister asked, her voice quaking

“Not all the ti that period” Xan dropped his head, feeling the weight of the lives he had taken His gaze was drawn to his hand intertwined with Sloan’s Her darker skin contrasted with his pearlescent skin, and she was centering him in the present

“Look athis eyes “I do not want you to be ashamed of what you did It is those who kept you captive who are the ones carrying that shame You did what you needed to do to survive, and for that I am happy” Her voice quaked as she steadied herself “I have my brother back” She threw her arms around his neck