e

hind the kitchens. After running from Xavier, it is the onl

against the walls, whispering, wide-eyed and curious. When the

is

who was

tour

d it straight to the kitchens, and from the kitchens to every mat and corner of this pla

rm. "Helen. The Alp

o rejected me, who wants to own me, w

the gua

know I was alone with the prince, and what we said? The dread rises like a wave and chokes my throat as

and the shadows stretch long. The gua

h his back to me, hands claspe

ne

on the verge of breaking. *Is this the end? Will they kill me f

is shadow falls over me, and he sto

oose you? Why did he w

give him the real one. I cannot say that

That the prince picked a dirty, rejected slave for no reason?" He leans down un

calm. "I only did what I was told. I showed him the

d you tell him?" His voice drops, low and dangerous. "Did yo

old him

are l

wear

I see his hand ris

y head sideways,

?" His voice is ice. "Catch h

his face, fear of what I might have said? Or is it jealousy, raw and ugly, that a

isper. "I only di

re nothing. You think a

k that. I do n

nd catch myself. He turns back to

e one mo

ha

ace and end this foolishness." He does not look at me. "If you refuse, I

eeks and drip onto my dres

eyes cold.

step throu

ay. She has

ot fight, or scream, or beg. I only cry, as they haul

y no

out t