the Lycan Kingdom, where towering structures of stone and glass stood beneath the watc

f it m

lean blankets, and the pillows waiting for her. Instead, she crossed the room on unsteady feet until she reached the farthest corner. The

eral long moments before quietly walking over and crouching several feet away

he call

lders st

have to s

le

're

before she answered in a voice

oesn't slee

ith a force no weapon

old yo

self until it seemed she wished she could disappear entirely. Isaac closed his eyes for a bri

close. He told her she would not be punished. He told her no one would beat her for making mistakes. He

was met with fr

the bed, she shook her h

ll dir

won

sleeps on

said gently.

ion in her hollow blue eyes hurt m

en, every hesitant step toward the bed looked like she was walking toward somethi

e you

c no

't have

seemed to startle her. Her breathing faltered. Slowly, almost fearfully, she climbed onto the mattress and sat perfectly sti

led the blanket o

whatever fragile control

s without restraint as she clutched the blanket against

l her everything would be alright or to stop crying. There were wounds too deep for comfort to

ng steadied. Still clutching the blanket tightly against her

arrived

side carrying a silver tray. She had served the royal household for over

, yet belief and witnessing were two entirely different things. Seeing the young woman slee

e called softly.

espo

d reached out, intending

Elen

r fingers brus

ashed onto the floor before scrambling backward on hands and knees until she reached the corner of the room. She cu

rrified sobs. "I'm awake! Please don't hit me! Please... th

slid against the silver surface, her eyes widened in horror. Sh

have prepare

her trembling hand, tear

whose bodies had been torn apart on battlefields, comforted children orphaned by rogue attacks, and watched proud Alp

d been

the corner had shattered ev

against her chest, forehead pressed against them, her

ral feet away, she did not move closer. Instead, s

p.

ft r

.. t

didn't

ia con

.. t

aid quietly. "You can keep looking at

ing neve

oing to to

.. t

stay exactly

ce passed before V

g time around peopl

ing paused for

ing to ask you

.. t

asking you

nued for what fe

head. Her dull blue eyes found Victoria's.

e you

slowly turned her hand over,

't have

l wa

m. Every movement was cautious, uncertain, as though she expected punishment for makin

around them, later that morning, Vi

ushed into the basin, Elena froze, her br

she wh

tinued for another second before she stum

o... ple

eating into the same corner she always sought, arms wrapped around herself

no bath today

a soft towel in warm

n silence while Victoria gently cleaned the dir

was covered in scars. Victoria staggered backward. She pressed a trembling hand over her mouth before

She barely reached the nearby washroom before she vomited.

kenly. "How could anyone do t