Blackfeather Woods bloom

Maybe—maybe—he’s starting to come around. She watches the relief fill his face and she starts to ease some of the tension in her joints, letting herself foolishly start to rise. Even if Kove had raped her, she likely wouldn’t tell him—the same with Iliksis—but she can at least speak the truth. Persistent, maybe, but she still consented and was left to deal with the consequences on her own. 

He repeats her words back to her, causing her to shrink back. The last thing she expected was to be shamed for her situation but with his anger, maybe she should have seen it coming. Shivali closes her eyes and takes a breath, trying to find a way to get through him but when she opens them again, he’s turned away. Still, he demands answers from her and she stands there, taking the brunt of his anger. 

“Kove,” she says after a moment, taking a step closer. Shivali moves to the side a little, hoping to get him to look at her. “I will kill them,” she tells him, lowering her gaze to stare at the ground, “if that is what you want me to do.”