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It feels like a stressful eternity has played out before I hear footsteps approaching again.
It instantly becomes clear that there are more than one set of feet coming to see me.
A knot tightens in my chest.
… And then it completely vanishes.
The second I see Castor step into the bedroom, all of my fear and anxiety disappears.
“Hey there, little lady,” he smiles.
It’s like I’m a child again. There’s no shame or hesitation as I leap off the bed and launch myself into his body.
“You’re alright!” My voice cracks as I wrap my arms around him. He’s so big that I hardly get past his abdomen. But that doesn’t stop the giant from flinching. He’s not alright. Not completely. But he’s alive. And he’s here, with me.
“I’d hope so,” Castor says, his big hand wrapping around the back of my head. Very gently, he pulls me into his chest, his t-shirt soaking up the hot tears carving down my cheeks.
But the harder I hug, the weaker his grip gets. He’s hurt. Badly.
“What did he do to you?” I ask, a flicker of fury exploding inside of me as I finally pull back from my long-lost protector.
All I can picture is Retsos using Castor as a punching bag. Payback for all of the times my giant called out the untouchable on his disgusting behavior.
Retsos needs to die.
“He didn’t treat me so badly,” Caster chuckles, his chest heaving with relief as I step back, releasing him from my iron grip.
“We won’t be so kind to him,” I sneer. All of the peace I thought I’d found here is on fire. I guess I only needed to be reminded of who has wronged me to feel rage again.
“I’m surprised to find you so angry at the man,” Castor says. “For a second, I was worried that you might have taken a liking to the boy…”
Immediately, I realize that we’ve been talking about two separate people.
“I was talking about Retsos…” I say, my head dropping as I remember all of the guilt and the shame I’ve been harboring.
“Ah, I see. Well, I can’t argue with you there. The bastard will get his comeuppance.”
“… And which bastard is that?” I hear Leo’s voice come from behind Castor’s hulking body.
“Our friend Thales Retsos,” Castor coughs, just as Leo steps up from behind him.
It’s only then that I truly realize just how rough Castor looks.
Next to the young, healthy prince, my old protector might as well look like Frankenstein’s monster. His weathered face is dark with bruises, his lips crusted with wounds. His eyes are bloodshot and yellow. And even though it looks like he’s recently been cleaned up, I can see the stress of what he’s been through in his hair.
Castor was always proud of his dark thick hair. But now it’s gotten thin on top and light enough to spot some grey.
My poor giant…
“I can’t argue with you there,” Leo huffs. “I’ll make that bastard pay.”
“Not if I make him pay first,” Castor grumbles.
“Don’t either of you dare touch him,” I jump in, my fury fanning long lost flames. The heat is almost intoxicating. “He’s mine.”
“That’s my girl,” Castor smiles.
The look Leo gives my old giant could kill an ordinary man. All of his jealousy and possessive rage explodes in those intense blue eyes. But then he looks at me.
