e way. The paramedics asked me questions I could not answer. Medical history. Medications. Allergies. I knew

cted. They kept her overnight for observation and told me to go home and rest. I did not rest. I sat in the waiting room

But awake. I closed the door behind me and stood at the foot o

x," she said. It

d. My voice was calm. Too calm. The

e was your mother."The words hit me like a physical blow.

"You told me my parents

lie

hy

lly looked at me. There was so much pain

he Blackwood family. When you and your sister were born, your mother, Eleanor, she... she did not want y

turned. "Ge

ed during birth. But I could not let that happen. I took you and

kissed my scraped knees. Who had told me stories about princesse

me," I said. My

"Eleanor Blackwood is a monster. She would have destroyed you. I swore

else

r told a soul.

nted to demand answers to a thousand questions. But be

me people here to see you.

end of the corridor, were two people I had never seen before. The woman was tall and elegant, dressed in a black coat that probably cost more than I made in

le. Calculated. "Seraphina," she said. Her voice wa

alking. "Wh

. "Eleanor Blackwood. And t

ed the wall to steady mys

ng. Your grandmother is dead. Or she will

ike a slap. "What

is hands shoved into his pockets. "We're not here t

you," I spat. "You abandon

mistake. One I intend to correct." Behind me, I heard a commotion. Elara was on her fee

from her" Eleanor turned to look at her. Her lip curled. "You," she said. "The n

anted herself between me and the Blackwoods

"You're dying, Elara. Stage Four lung cancer. The doctors h

felt the blood d

r eyes fixed on me. "Experimental treatments. The best doctors in the coun

r. "You're bla

ere with your dying nanny and watch her suffer. Or

. She shook her head."Don't," she begged. "Don't go with them. They'

forty-eight hours that had already run out. I thought about the way Elara had held me when I was a child. The stories she had told me. The love she

t you to meet your sister. And I want you to take her pl

in the air. Ela

of marriage

orres. Your sister was promised to them years ago, but she has refused to

to pretend to be my sist

torre family has three sons. The contract requ

e men. She wanted me to marry three men."That'

ulled out a folded piece of paper. "This is a contract. It states that if you agree to the marriage,

y eyes. All I could see was the number at the bottom. The cost of

hispered. "Please, Ser

only family. "You're worth everything," I said

me

ere with you. I want to see the doctors. I want to see t

ily. Like it meant something. Like she had not abandoned me at birth and left me to d

y mouth. Elara cried out. She grabbed my arm, her grip sur

. "I won't let you

obbed. "They're not your fami

e gestured to Richard, who stepped toward me. He took my ar

oice sounded hollow. Distant. L

ake it quick. We h

n. The door was still unlocked. The soup bowl was still on the table. E

. The photograph of Elizabeth Blackwood. The newspaper clipping. I did not know why I kept th

ind me, swaying on her feet. She had followed me home. I did not know ho

per. "They will hurt you. They will use you. And when

be alive," I said. "Th

r. You've always mattered. I should have told you the truth years

id of

outh. Closed it.

of what,

r. Her eyes were wild. Desperate. She gripped my arm so hard it hurt. "Promise me you

ed me into a hug. Her body was thin and frail, but her arms were strong. "I love you," she wh

I did not want to l

nt. The leather seats were cold. Eleanor sat in the front, next to the driver. Richard sat beside me in the bac

watched my old life slip away.And I wondered if I would ever see it again.The car pulled onto the highw

at me."Welcome home, Seraphina," she

nk about Elara's warning.They're not your family. They're your exec