a

Silas's agitated breathing came through the wood, a muffled, percussive sound that echoed in

feel his immense presence, a low hum of po

nd unspooled, driftin

ega territory was a

ere the scullions, the laundresse

me. She tried

hair and weave be

ft counterpoint to the harsh world. "He is merely occupied by ma

'father' in my own head. A child's desperate lie

or affection, I fe

las as a stern, silent guardian, waiting only for

turned

dry bread. Nana had switched on the te

feed from the

ed. The chamber was festooned with w

oming-of-a

not f

, Selene's young

pet, a diamond tiara glittering in her hair. S

panned to

ng there, holdin

stage, Silas envelope

es. He looked proud. He was overflowing w

the microphone, his voice imbued with a warmth I h

perfect, lum

k me. I swallowed the mouthful of coarse crumbs, and they scraped a path down my throat, tri

reservoir of love. He simply had no in

a's old datapad and logged into

gh-ranking members could view his posts

as a shrin

over a slain deer, the caption readi

er birthdays, her vaca

own, my hand

my own acco

tered the Warrior trials for young wolves, figh

to the main house, clinging to the hope

to him, he had only star

ed. "You manipulate your opponents. It is the witch's blo

ruel words, I dro

out my certificates of merit, my wa

ingless scraps, ripping and shre

rcelain of the toilet and vomited, heaving until my stomach

door pulled my ghost

Bang

boomed from the hallway. "O

door. He was finally h

know yet. He's still angry about whatever Selene told him. He has no idea