n's

e d

, since Derek's offer, since

am eighteen, and my body feels like an old woman's. I wash my face in cold water, pin my hair back, and

I will never taste. Someone shoves a tray into my arms, then another, then another, p

hing me forward. "The Alp

sneer, nobles who look away, and servants who whisper. My arms burn and the plates rattle, and if

. The ladies don

one arm and knock on

me

money. The air smells of roses and perfume. Two golden-haired women lounge by the window

ughter

a says. "Loo

one," Mira s

table. Smoke and dust cling to my face, and Elar

ike a rat,"

shaking with exhaustion. The first plate is f

and

bread, and honeyed fruit spil

fool!" Ela

"Do you know what that carpet cos

my bare hands. It is hot, and it burns my fi

ays, laughing. "Us

all about his generous offer, you know. Look at her, crawling on the floor like

ds go

. Animal.

un. Instead I lift my head and

r feelings?" Mir

mes out calm. "You can't hurt me. You are s

ouths f

you," El

and petty and small. All you have is your brother

ushes red, and Mira's hands tremble.

k on the tray. "Per

r, and Elara screa

ara's hand rises, and the slap comes wi

nk a slave could be

d shoves me down. My knees hit t

not c

ds do not. Worthless. Rat. I stare at the floor and endure it,

oor o

y, my heart leaps. *Maybe he will stop them.

sounds bored. "Why is

ys. "She spilled the food an

fend me, to pull me

nd I look at him with blood on my lip and pleadi

ard. "You do not speak to my sisters that

for the second t

"Come. I need t

turns on me. "Have you

ay. "My an

"You are stubborn. I like tha

d saving. No

ill see how long you last. How lo

never

my skin. "You will. They always do. You will

d rathe

et out of my sight before I

d, the sky grey, the sun hidden behind clouds. I do not know where I am going. I only know I hav

ut. In

urv

el

cold. She studies the bruise and the blood. "Clean yourself up. The

r. "The Lycan

isible. You know how to

y haven't heard what happene

ill be polite, and you wil

htens. "Un

eight. The Lycan King. Ruler of Lunaria. The most p

and put on the cleanest clothes I own, old and worn but

ay. "But

." I hold it to my cheek, and the cold eases the pain. "Thank

off to ready the great hall. In seconds the room is nearly empty. She points me to

, a cup, and a box of ingredien

, something secret that only my mother knew. I can almost hear her voice. *The secret is in the timing. The wa

am not a slave. I am my mother's daughter. I pour the water, add

h for

mething deep in my chest answers it. A pull, strange and magnetic, tugs

hes, my muscles tear. The cup shatters on the floor. I

f is c

here.

down, but she is t

hen I

d and glowing. The kitchen is silent.

hought

n I see