"A theme park?" Christian says in disbelief, his eyes widening with a childish sparkle of excitement. "How is he going to pull that off?"

We're laying on loungers beside the swimming pool on the grounds. Blake stays close, he gives me distance but he won't take his eyes from me. Some of my bruises are still visible but it's such a nice day that I begged Cain to find me a swimming costume to wear. He did, eventually, though I think it was Bella's because she keeps glaring at me from across the pool. Then again, that could be because of a variety of reasons. Samson is here too; he's enjoying a swim with a couple of the owned girls. I've never met them before but one of them is the girl that tried to save his life. She probably did. If she hadn't alerted me then things would have gone very differently yesterday. Blake returned with Samson yesterday afternoon and informed us that he had an inoperable brain tumour. It wouldn't have been caused by injury but the injuries made it worse, it made it life-threatening. Blake said he only has a few days left at most and Samson has taken his fate well. He's using his freedom to enjoy every moment. I'm still unsure if I had something to do with that, if I somehow healed his pain and trauma by merely touching him. Cain never expanded on what it actually meant, probably because he has no idea.

"He's searching for creatures that have theme park knowledge from engineers and workers," I say. "They are going to open three tomorrow and all the humans can visit."

"From all over the world?"

I nod. "Cain agrees that they deserve some fun."

Christian looks away, a small sigh breaks out from his lips, making me stare at him.

"What?" I say. "You don't think it's a good idea?"

"I think it's a great idea," he says. "But most of them will be too tired or broken to even stay conscious through the flight there, let alone walk around a theme park. The children will love it but the owned humans? Is it really fair for them to watch everyone enjoying themselves when they can't?"

I bite on my nail as I lean back into the lounger. "Why did you have to make this depressing?"

"Sorry," he says. "I'm a realist. I'm sure they'll all love it."

I lean down under the lounger bed and I take out a notepad and pen. This was a gift from Cain this morning, he said to use it if I needed to contact him. I write the instructions very carefully, hoping the paper doesn't become damaged during the flight.

"Blake," I call.

Blake is at my side in seconds, before I've even finished writing the note. I fold it twice and I hand it to him.

"Give this to a guard to send to Cain," I say. "Tell them it's important and to be careful."

"Right away."

"Thank you."

Christian tenses angrily and relaxes when Blake walks away. "What did you write?"

"I told him to make sure there's wheelchairs available."

Christian smiles. "Got him wrapped around your finger, haven't you?"

"I'm honestly starting to believe that he hates his entire species," I say. "He feels absolutely nothing when he kills them. . . or tortures them. You should have seen him in that throne room. He doesn't care about them, about their opinions or anger or even their heartbreak. I think I'm the only person he's ever apologized to and meant it."

Christian laughs. "He's the King, Aurora. He can't show them weakness, ever. But putting you in that throne room yesterday was the worst thing he ever could have done."

"Why?"

"Because you are his weakness," Christian says. "And now they all know it."

I shift uncomfortably, looking over my shoulder as Blake returns and takes his former position a few feet behind us. I knew Cain had hired Blake to be my personal guard for my safety but now it makes sense just how unsafe I am.

"He isn't letting the world leaders enter our theme park tomorrow," I say. "He's going to have every guard at this palace watching over me, including himself."

"Because of Thea?" he says.

"Yes."

I saw the way Thea looked at me yesterday, the way she looked at both of us. Out of everyone there, she was the only one that was looking for an opening for revenge. Hurting me would hurt Cain but I am also the reason that her partner is dead. I am at the centre of her rage.

We might be paranoid. She might have returned to her corner of the world in a huff and decided to let it go but Cain isn't taking the chance. The other world leaders aren't going to come after me for no reason, they are far too afraid of death. I guess the most powerful always will be. Thea is fuelled by something else.

I pick up my smoothie from beneath the lounger, it's so hot that my skin feels as though it's melting. I cast my eyes back to the pool, smiling as I watch them splash each other.

"Come on," Christian says. "You've been sat on the sidelines for far too long."

I take a deep breath. "I'm nervous."

"Of swimming?" he chuckles. Christian takes his shirt off and drags down his pants. I swallow as I look over his slightly tanned body. "Gianna's burial is tonight and I really need you to take my mind off it."

"That's not fair," I growl.

He places his hand out with a smirk. "Nothing ever is, my Queen."

I scowl at him as I let him pull me to my feet. We walk over to the pool and Blake flanks us closely. Christian is straight down the steps and watching me from inside the water as he circles his hands and smiles. My feet meet the freezing water as I take steady steps into the deepness.

"It's so cold!" I hiss.

Christian laughs as I try to swim over to him. How the hell do I swim? I haven't swum since I was eleven, maybe even younger. I stay where my feet can touch the ground because I don't dare go deeper. I spent weeks dreaming about how it would feel to swim in the river with the other girls, to feel like I was floating and free, but I can't remember how to actually do it.

My body is still a bit sore as I try and move my arms in a circular motion. The pain prevents me from swimming further out even if I wanted to. Bella meets my eyes for a moment over the book she's reading. I smile at her genuinely but that seems to make her angry and she storms away.

"Still not her biggest fan?" Christian says. "What a shame."

I grin at him. "I think she hates me more now."

"Oh definitely. Don't take it personally, she hates everyone."

I look over Christian's shoulder and I see Samson following the girls out of the pool at the other side to us. I stare at the scars on his back, they look like whip slashes. There are so many of them, they cover his entire skin. Samson pauses at the top step, holding a hand to his head.

"Christian," I whisper, pointing over to Samson.

"I got it."

Christian swims over to him, arriving just in time for Samson's collapse. His arms catch him before he falls back into the water. The girls suddenly keep their distance, biting on their nails as they watch the scene unfold. Blake flies over the pool and lands next to them, he takes Samson from Christian's arms and carries him up the steps and over to a lounger. I back up to the steps and I walk around the pool.

We all watch with helplessness as Samson's body convulses. Blake tries to keep his head from hitting the top of the lounger but that's the only thing he can do. We all remain silent as we wait for the seizure to stop. Samson's eyes eventually open with confusion, he looks around slowly, becoming terrified of all of us.

"Poor guy," Christian mumbles. "He doesn't even remember being here."

"I'll take him back to his room to rest," a girl says, walking confidently towards Blake, she suddenly stops and turns back around to look at me. "If that's okay? He feels safe around me."

"Of course," I say. "But please get help if something happens."

"I will."

Samson accepts her hand and willingly walks with her across the grounds. The other girl joins them, both of them linking one of his arms.

"Well, the mood is officially killed," Christian says. "He probably won't be able to go on any rides tomorrow, you know?"

"I know," I say. "But that's his choice."

"And hers apparently."

I drift back over to the lounge bed and I finish my smoothie before placing a dress over my wet costume. I collect all my things together as I decide to head back inside. Having free reign of the palace is a great feeling, especially because I can now command the guards to move out of my way before they've even spotted me. I assist Christian and the other slaves for the rest of the day. We hang some clothes and sheets outside to dry and then I help them sweep the utility rooms. Witnessing Christian and I laugh together has prompted the slaves to become braver with approaching me. I pause my conversation with Christian as a teenage boy walks across the hallway that we're cleaning. He's young with curly dark hair and only comes up to my shoulders.

"Can I speak to you about something?" he says, his eyes flicking to Christian. "Confidentially."

"Sure," I say.

Christian shrugs and continues to scrub the walls while I follow the boy across the hallway. A small group of guys walk past us and the boy waits until they've gone until he speaks.

"I didn't know who else to speak to about this," he says. "I don't trust the other slaves and the guards don't care."

"What is it?" I say gently.

He rubs his eyes tiredly and I think he might cry but he composes himself. "The other slaves in my section won't let me sleep. They take it in turns to keep me awake by shaking me or talking next to me. They won't let me eat either and I have to wait for them to go on their breaks until I can use the bathroom because they block them."

"How long has this been going on for?"

"Around a week since I arrived here," he says. "I'm falling asleep while doing my chores and the guards don't tolerate that. I'm sorry for springing this on you but I don't know what else to do. They are tormenting me and I've done nothing except try and be their friend. I have tried to get an audience with the King but he doesn't involve himself with human conflict."

"Okay," I say, rubbing my head as I think about how to handle this. "Where is your section?"

"Down that hallway to the left." He points right past me. "Most of them have clocked off now, they're waiting for me."

"What's your name?"

"Miles."

"Okay, you're going to be moved into Christian's section. You can trust him, I promise. Will you come with me to get your stuff?"

He nods. "Thank you."

I call for Blake who is waiting on a staircase at the other side of the hallway. I fill him in when he reaches us and he doesn't question anything. He walks behind us as Miles leads the way to his bedroom quarters.

The boy opens the door fearfully and the first thing I hear is a snickering laugh from somewhere inside the room.

"The runt is back."

"I heard you were crying earlier, did we-?"

There is silence as I enter the room. The sight of me makes them stand in a formation against their beds but the sight of Blake causes them to tremble. The slave quarters are huge, there must be at least twelve of them in this room and not one of them stood up for him. Not one of them reported it. They all look older than Miles. Their statures are broad and intimidating, they'd make me afraid, let alone a child.

"Get your things, Miles," I say.

Blake leans in close to me. "May I?"

"Sure."

Blake steps into the room and ignites an instant reaction from the slaves. Their heads go higher, their eyes almost to the ceiling.

"Don't you have anything to say for yourselves?" Blake says as he marches down the centre of the room between the lines of beds. He drags a slave forwards at the end, throwing him down to his knees. "First, attempted rape on an owned girl and now this. Things aren't looking good for you, James."

"What?" I say, my hand clenches into a fist at my side. "Why wasn't he investigated?"

"Because it happened recently," Blake says. "The King hasn't had time to investigate yet."

"It's all lies!" James hisses, he looks up and meets my eyes. "You'd believe this monster's word over mine?"

"With your permission, I can investigate myself," Blake says. He wraps his hand around James' throat and yanks him up.

I swallow as I realize what he means. James looks at me with desperation.

"It's true," Miles says as he packs some of his clothes into a bag. "I witnessed it. I was the one that convinced her to report it. That's why he's been tormenting me."

"You didn't tell me that," I say.

"He assaulted another girl too," one of the slaves says. "He made us keep quiet about it."

"Shut up," James says. "You're just trying to take the heat off of yourselves but you all bullied that boy."

"Aurora?" Blake says, keeping a firm hold of James' throat. "The choice is yours."

I nod my head. "Do it."

I look away as James' scream of pain fills the whole room. Blake's eyes turn orange as he feeds from him. James wriggles and punches against Blake's hand, trying to make it stop. Eventually, James' hands drop to his side and his body is limp in Blake's hold. Blake throws his unconscious body onto the bed.

"He's guilty," Blake says. "I kept him alive, barely, the King will decide what to do with him later. He won't wake up before that."

I try to make my anger outweigh the disgust I feel that I just ordered a human to be fed from. He might have deserved it but it doesn't make me feel any better. I flick my hand at Miles as he waits with the bag around his shoulder.

"Let's go," I say. "As for the rest of you, while the humans enjoy their day at the theme park tomorrow you will all stay here and complete all of the slaves' chores. Take the time to think about what you've done."

They won't even look at me. I stir Miles out of the door and I take him back to Christian who is waiting eagerly for me to tell him everything that just happened. It seems to shock him. I think he's used to slaves coming to him with reports of problems.

"Let's get you settled in your new room," Christian says. "I'll see you later at the burial?"

"Yeah," I say.

The moment Christian and Miles leave, Blake walks to my side.

"Burial?" Blake says. "Gianna's burial?"

"You didn't know?"

"No. The humans usually organize them and we don't particularly share the interest of attending. I would have liked to have known though."

"You know now," I mumble.

"Do you think I should be there?"

"No," I say as I start walking down the staircase. "Stay away from it."

Blake doesn't fight me on that and I'm grateful. I walk to the kitchen at the back of the palace and I integrate myself into the slaves' safe place. I came here this morning but they were different slaves that grew used to me, these are new faces with the same expression of fear and caution. I make myself a coffee and I leave minutes later, escaping out of the back door and onto the decking. I take a seat at the table, holding a hand above my eyes as I locate Jackson playing soccer with Jase on the lawn.

I sip my coffee as I wait for their game to end. Suddenly, a girl comes running at me from the other side of the decking, carrying a small child with her that she holds out to me.

"Could you watch her for a while? I really need the bathroom."

"Sure," I say, taking the sweet toddler into my arms. "Where are the others?"

"Jase only brought her today. I might be a while. Very sorry. Thank you."

"It's fine," I laugh. "Take your time."

I study the toddler's face as I twist her around, her name is Cindy. She's two-years-old with beautiful blonde hair that's tied back with a pink band. She sits in my lap very patiently. I push my coffee away from her as she tries to reach out for it. I see Jase looking for her across the lawn, he grows anxious until his eyes land on us. I wave at him and he waves back.

I sit there for a while as the girl doesn't return. I don't mind though. I've practically been looking after children for almost half of my life. Blake brings her juice in a cup with a straw and she takes it from me politely, sipping it as she watches the soccer game with just as much amusement. I notice that Jackson is starting to pant and I pick Cindy up as I walk to the steps. The mother in me is coming out, I can't ignore it.

"Jackson, get a drink," I shout. "Jase, make sure he's drinking!"

Jase takes a water bottle over to him and I sit back down as Jackson takes a break to drink. I become confused as Blake walks off without saying a word for the first time all day. Only one thing would cause that and I turn my head to see Cain walking across the lawn. He keeps his eyes on Jackson and Jase as he turns and walks in my direction.

"Hey," he says, leaning down to kiss my forehead. He drops to his knees and catches Cindy's hand as she tries to reach out for his hair. Cain chuckles. "Who is this?"

"This is Cindy," I say. "One of Jase's many toddlers."

"Ah," Cain says. He shakes her hand. "Nice to meet you. How are you?"

I blink at him. "She doesn't speak."

"I know that," he mumbles, taking the seat beside me. "I was just testing you."

"Right," I laugh. "Did you get my message?"

"I did. I took care of it. Tomorrow is going to be a day to remember."

"So which one's ours?" I say. "I take it they're not next to each other."

"No," he says. "Ours will be close, the one in Florida. The others will be in other places of the world. I want the world leaders as far from this country as possible."

"I'm excited," I say as I bounce Cindy to try and settle her. "All the children are going to be."

"Hopefully their nannies can handle them," Cain says. "So how was your day? You didn't get into any more trouble I hope."

I frown slightly as I think of Miles and the situation with the slaves. I tell Cain what happened and he remains silent through my whole explanation. He listens intently, not offering a change of expression or reaction. He just stares back blankly at me.

"Should I not have done it?" I say. "Blake said it was my choice."

"No, it's not that," he says. "You did the right thing. When I am not here then you can act in my place, removing the boy was the best decision."

"Then what's wrong?"

"I've never had to punish a human for something this severe before." Cain rubs his chin. "What does he deserve?"

Many things come to mind. Torture. Ridicule. Hanging from a rope execution style. But I don't give him those ideas, I am not brave enough.

"I can't answer that," I say. "Whatever you decide, just leave me out of it. I don't want to know."

"But you never want to see him in the palace again either?"

"Not if he's a risk to girls," I say. "You could transfer him to a farming centre. Make him work extra hard every day for the rest of his life."

"That seems too kind," Cain says. "Do you think he'd deserve that if he had attacked you? Because I don't."

"Like I said, just leave me out of it."

"Very well," he says. "Blake can consume the rest of him."

I meet his eyes furiously. "Cain, I just said that I didn't want to know."

He smiles at me. "I know."