ting a faint glow on the cramped room. Dust motes danced

h her. Her mind racing with the events to come, she rubbed the remnants of sleep

face stern and unyielding as the stone walls. Hi

Get r

y, her hands trembling as she gathered her meager belongings. Her fingers brushed

normally a cascading waterfall down her back, was now tightly braided. Her amber eyes, bright as honey in sunlight, shone with quiet resilience. Her smooth,

orn maid's dress, her best. The dull grey fabric hung loosely, accentuating

he murmured, adj

s' voice echoed

he replied, smo

's emissary arrives

ll, U

t to calm her racing heart. She descended the stairs, her long legs carrying her w

eyes gleaming with malice. "You'll ma

atisfaction of seeing her break. As they waited, Amby's thoughts turned to he

s expression turned calculating. "That'll

ng figure entered the room. His eye

announced, his voice dripping with disdai

oducing a pouch of coins. "The

pouch. The soft clink of gold coins within was music to his ears. He we

a commodity, a prize to be bought and sold. She saw as the emissary's gaze lingered on her

clean. Amby knew this, had heard his whispered worries in the dead of night. The weight of her worth settled heavy on her shoulde

oice dripped

ent is sett

d, his gaze never

nsidering her...

nking. She knew her value lay not

emissary ordered,

l. She looked at Elara, who deliberately looked away. Her mother was still in the room, enjoying her beauty sle

ottage, once filled with warmth and laughter, now seemed cold and unforgiving. Her eyes lingered on Elara's smug fa

she meant nothing to him, though he was her mother's brother. With a deep breath, Amby turned away, leaving b

of uncertainty washed over her. Wh

to her thoughts. "Hold tight,

ft her painful past behind, a

oria, rushed out of the cotta

more cruelty.Victoria stormed up

he Lycan King, thinking you'll find luxury and comfort

er be more than a servant, a plaything for the king's whims. Don't think yo

ord like a slap,

t bother thinking you'll ever return

ctoria turned and stormed back into

es, but she refused to let tears fall. S

e voice broke the si

r gaze forward. She kne

move, Amby whispered t

from the only life she'd known. As the cottage receded into the distance, Amby felt tears

cruel or kind? And what of the palace, with its

se picked up pace. She closed her eyes, letting

illed with danger, myste