OPINION

Freya's POV:

We're trying to send you back to your world.

My heart went still at that moment as I stared at him blankly.

“W-what do you mean by that?” I finally croaked out, talking a large gulp of nothing.

Duncan sat forward, his brows etched as he looked conflicted.

I was supposed to be happy so why wasn't I? This was literally the best time to leave this fucked up place.

“Freya…” he started but trailed off.

I watched him rub his hand over his face, waiting for his response.

“Things are going to get really awful here and you might lose your life,” he finally said, looking me straight in the eyes.

I clenched my hands resting on my thighs to maintain composure.

“And things might turn out good if you and Lord Lucien stop hiding things from me,” I muttered.

I could feel my eyes wavering so I looked away, staring at the door.

I heard Duncan let out a deep sigh and some shuffling. Within a minute, he was standing right in front of me

I went still with my eyes wide open.

This was the first time he was getting this close and I could finally see the details.

His emerald eyes had flecks of gold in them that had me trapped as his scent from the night I got kidnapped wrapped around me.

I could feel my heart thump like crazy so I swallowed hard.

“Freya, it is best to leave somethings hidden,” he started then looked down.

“It's for your protection,” he said with a smile when he looked at me once more.

I didn't respond.

Did he know that he would win this argument if came close?

“We thought this would make you happy since you probably miss your people,” he added with a mutter.

His words made my heart ache a bit and I said, “I have no one.”

Duncan's face etched into a frown as he tilted his head a bit, his eyes still on me.

“You have your fa… oh,” he said, nodding.

The conversation was starting to get uncomfortable so I moved away and stared into space.

After what seemed like hours of silence, Duncan said, “There must be something you want to do out there.”

My eyes flickered to his and I noticed something in them. I had thought he was conflicted but his eyes held something else in them.

The same one my father had when I was twelve and getting… expensive to keep. It was the day he was looking for an orphanage to throw me into but every single one was filled up.

“I can't afford to get her pad,” my father had said to the owner.

I could still remember the dirty stare the man had given me before he replied, “So she's a woman already.”

The way I shrunk when the man reached to touch me was still in my memory.

One more glance at Duncan made me break into a sob. Maybe I had been expecting too much from this world.

“Freya?” Duncan called out in confusion, talking a step closer.

I looked away and let the tears blur out my vision.

“Did I say something wrong?” He asked, his hand reaching for mine.

I stared at his large ones that covered my own. I wanted to pull away but I couldn't… the sparks that crawled through my system didn't allow it.

“Freya, I'm sor-

“You're desperate,” I said in a whisper.

“Wh-what?”

I didn't know if the confusion in his eyes was fake.

“You're desperate to get rid of me. Both you and Lord Lucien.”

Duncan's eyes widened as his grip on my hand tightened.

“No, that's not it. We're only desperate to keep you safe,” he said.

For some reason, it felt like he was trying to convince himself. His touch burned at this point, they weren't offering comfort anymore.

So I snatched my hand from his and looked away.

“Stop pretending. It makes it hurt more,” I said in between the sobs.

Duncan grabbed my body and tried to turn me around but I struggled. He gave up when I was starting to get hysterical.

“I'm sorry, Freya. We really thought you would love it.”

Although he sounded sincere, his words offended me further.

“Why would you think for me?” I asked him with a glare.

Duncan seemed lost of words and finally understood what he had done.

“Fre-

The door swinging open interrupted him and it was no other person but his sister.

I wiped my tears and ran to her immediately. For the first time, I was grateful to have her in my life.

“Duncan, what did you do to her?” Sophie asked as her gaze constantly moved from Duncan to I.

I knew that I looked a mess so I had my head down, staring at my hands… specifically the one he held.

“Sophie, I need to talk to her alone,” Duncan said.

His voice sounded tired and when I looked up, his eyes were on me.

“Freya,” Sophie called, her eyes narrowed as she stared at her brother.

“Do you want to listen to him?”

Her question made me freeze. This was the first time anyone was ever asking for my opinion about my life.

I looked at Duncan one last time and noticed he still had that look.

“No,” I replied, not taking my eyes off him.

His body seemed to slouch immediately. Sophie held my hand and gave it a soft pat.

“You heard her, brother.”

It was weird having Sophie stand up for me. It felt like she saw me as something more than a slave in their world.

“Freya, let's go and have you dressed up for the ceremony,” she said to me with a tiny smile.

Her eyes seemed apologetic and it made me soften. With a little smile I could manage, I nodded and followed.

Just before she shut the door, she said, “I made a mistake bringing her to you.”