The metronome ticked back and forth, a consistent rhythm to attempt to bring some order to the disarray in Theo's head. He sat on the mat of soft woven fabric on the floor in the middle of the largest tree in the goblin compound, which had been reserved for the king's purposes. Now his.
Theo tried not to think of his father when he was in the royal chambers, and what his father must have done to his mother within its confines. Sometimes his thoughts managed to drift off to more pleasant ideas, but today was not one of those days, for he foresaw himself doing much the same to Lily in that bed as Theo's father had done to his mother.
He had brought Lily to the goblin tree fortress, and had staved off disaster for the time being, but she was not a willing bride. She was not a gift from the wolves to the goblins, an offering of peace. Her hesitation and fear had turned her into a prisoner, and Theo had no one to blame but himself.
Lily would never give herself to him willingly. Thoughts of what he would have to do to her to get her to submit to marital rituals after marriage made him sick to his stomach, and that was why he was on the floor, rather than enjoying the luxuries that being a prince, soon to be king, had to offer.
Soft, down blankets, covered with the finest silks. Ornate, heavy wooden bedframes that wouldn't rock no matter how rough the lovemaking on the mattress. And as many pillows as a man could ever want for.
Theo sighed and stood up from the mat, walking over to the circular window carved into the tree trunk. A veil of leaves draped over the hole, which from outside, made it seem perfectly natural. Now, he pulled the leaves back with a rope to reveal the world outside. He could see the forest beyond the compound, and the swaying trees called to him. He yearned to be out there, running with the wolves, rather than stuck in this stuffy room.
No, he had to focus. He had a kingdom to think about, and a bride that needed to be won over. Theo just hoped that he could do so without breaking her entirely.
Theo let out a heavy breath, and ran his fingers through his hair. He had to get himself together. He was the ruler, now. He couldn't afford to be weak. Not when there were enemies hiding in the shadows, waiting to take advantage of any sign of weakness. Everything he did was for the sake of the goblins as well as the wolves. If he had to break one woman to make peace possible, if he had to crush his morals and keep his conscience in check to save so many other lives, wasn't it worth it?
It was still light out, which meant there was time for him to go for a run before dinner. He could clear his head, and maybe even come up with a plan to win Lily over by the time he returned. But every time he tried to convince himself that taking her by force was the way to go, he remembered the distant, fearful look in his mother's eyes whenever she caught Theo's father's attention.
He couldn't do that. He couldn't.
But neither could he give spark to the rebellion threatening to rise around him.
Theo made his way out of the royal chambers, uncertain of what he would do now. He ran through the tree fortress, across rope bridges anchored from the trunks of the biggest trees in the forest, greeting goblins as he went. They all bowed low as he passed, calling him "Your Majesty."
It was strange, hearing those words, even after three years. He had never thought he would be king. It was always his father's role, and Theo saw what power had done to the man: it had sown darkness and wretchedness in his soul, or at least enhanced the greed that had already lingered there. Power had made his father a horrible man, tyrannical and terrible. Theo vowed early on that he would never be king for fear that he would turn out like his father if he did.
That was why, after three years since murdering his father for the betterment of goblin kind, Theo was still prince, not king.
Perhaps it was fear that made him vulnerable. Had he taken the title of king by now, perhaps he could have silenced any whispers of rebellion long ago. It was the fact that Theo had not grown into his power yet that they thoughttheyhad the power to act instead.
Theo climbed rope ladders and went across swaying bridges, circling around the compound and trying to find order in his thoughts. When he reached the highest lookout tower within the compound itself, he leaned against a trunk to catch his breath before turning back around.
And that was when he saw her.
Lily's small hands were wrapped around the rope that acted as the railing, her knuckles white and bruised. She gazed down at the goblins working below, weaving around each other atop the platforms built high in the trees. Theo had ordered the goblins not to hold her prisoner, but to keep watch on her, because he didn't think she would run. And if she did, the goblins would catch her before she made it beyond the compound.
But he hadn't expected to run into her here.
She hadn't noticed him yet. Her mouth was downturned into a forlorn frown, looking utterly lost and alone. Theo took a moment to just drink her in. She looked exhausted and dirty from days spent running from the goblins, as she'd refused to clean and change into clothes more befitting her future rank. But she was still the most beautiful thing Theo had ever laid eyes upon.
He stepped out from the shadows, his steps loud enough to let her know he was there. She turned to face him, and Theo's heart clenched at the fear that flared in her eyes before she could school her features into a more neutral expression.
"Theo," she breathed, her eyes going wide. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask the same of you," he replied. "You're not supposed to be up here."
Lily swallowed hard, her gaze darting around as if she was looking for an escape route. Theo stood by the only rope ladder leading down. "I just wanted to see," she said softly. "I wanted to see what my future held."
Theo frowned as understanding dawned on him. "You thought this is where you would be kept? Locked away in a tower like a fairytale princess?"
Lily shrugged, not meeting his eyes. "It seemed likely. I ran away. I broke an oath. You need to make sure I don't escape. And after all, that's what you goblins do with your prisoners, isn't it? Keep them locked up until they rot?"
"That's not what we do. We don't lock people up here."
"Then where are the other humans?" Lily asked, her voice trembling. "Where are the other women?"
Once, Theo's father had a harem of slaves and tributes filled with the finest women he could get his disgusting hands on. Those who hadn't faded over the years, hadn't escaped, or been killed by the former king, Theo had freed. Along with every other captive the goblins had held, though goblins didn't usually like to keep prisoners in the first place unless they served a purpose.
"There are none. Men, women, or otherwise." He took a step closer to her, and Lily tensed but didn't move away. "You're the only one."