Sing Me to Sleep

by Gabi Burton

Meeting new people isn’t daunting—it’s too familiar to be daunting—but it’s inevitably draining.

People have a way of living down to my expectations.

He’s a Royal; there’s no reason for him to do anything other than look pretty (check) and kill anything he doesn’t like (another check).

“I asked around about you.” Jeune pierces the silence. “Oh?” She takes a right and I follow. “Apparently, everyone at the Barracks thought you were an asshole.” It’s unsurprising, but I wasn’t expecting to hear it from Jeune. She grins when I don’t reply. “I understand. I’d rather be an exceptional asshole than average.”

“Of course not,” says Issabex. “You decide what’s legal based on what’s useful to you.”

“Complacency and condoning are the same.

“I want you. All of you. But if that’s too much, I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give me. Whatever you want to give me.”