ia'

low down after w

to move aside before he reached them. No one questioned where

ed open a set of carved doors and

l windows overlooked the inner courtyard. I stood just inside the doorway, uncertain whet

urned to

the phy

ouncil?" A

can

bowed a

ve. Celeste's fingers had left a wrinkle

" he

elf onto the

His attention moved to my cheek, and

ollen skin. "It

ot for you

answer, the doo

pack physician, and his silver hair was tied at the nape of his neck. A youn

glanced at Kae

exami

u m

ded before touching me. He examined the cut inside my lip, the swelling

dizzi

N

use

N

red v

ok my

wrist, counting my pulse. Then he

s drew t

cuts had reopened along my knuckles, and the scars from

ot from toda

N

caused

or

ed towar

ace had becom

ooked at the bruises along my forearms. His

d, pl

bey

gth of my pulse again. When he asked me to step onto the scale, I almost refu

an stared a

ten do

ry d

not my q

red my

ak, and her blood is likely deficient. The condition is not rec

m went

nd closed a

stion, and poor healing. She needs regular meals, iron, rest, and supe

will wait,"

d and began applyin

d Kaelen

manded that someone drag Vivienne before him. Yet the silence

ing warm and easy to digest. Send a

t hurried fr

every remed

, Al

he physician. "She will not

sician

esswood," Kaelen continued. "Prepare th

eath

not ask

already

my cheek and stepped back. "She

y will proce

at him. "

urned to

med. The wedding will tak

I did. But beneath the fear was so

li

to Celeste's voice or Vivienne's orders. Whatever waited beyond C

ed and departed w

, neither o

ched my ch

u disap

narrowed sligh

y

answer im

never seen. Someone who looks like this." My fingers curled ag

eyes,"

stung more t

ple consider beautiful. I also know the

oked

d hair, my borrowed dress, my b

orked, and left without care,"

oat ti

had been c

e sitting here asking

certain that I c

o the door a

utside. She was older than me, with calm eye

ssed her wit

thes, medicine, and food first. The ceremony

, Al

heek. No one touches her

oman

lly looked

at, and rest befo

s an

er had meant less food, more

rmth, clean cloth

st

side, leaving th

nted to leave Cresswood. He h

e, someone else's decision d

e servant int

ng orders about medicine, pro

not lo

id not

chosen what wou

not yet understand, I