old when Sera

dows, the sheer curtains fluttering like ghosts. For a moment, she forgot

it hi

wedd

e

behind Zay

Mrs. Kni

ame

She hadn't even changed out of the dress last night-she'd fallen asleep

n't co

rned. Not to argue. Not to explain. Not eve

ur father ruined every

my bed, and wear my ring... but

her chest. Anger threatened to surface, but it wa

t lie. Her lipstick was smudged. Her lashes clung together from last night'

hed water on her face, as if it wo

nt. Ornate portraits lined the walls-ancestors in oil paint, all with

r. Every surface of the estate gleamed-polished marble, gold acce

at the bottom o

string of pearls that looked

he woman said with a tight smi

ected company-certainly not this early, and not

must

t," she said. "Z

rse sh

owed. "It's nic

e she was inspecting a vase someone

d with a dismissive wave. "But I suppo

ina st

welcome. It

u lived here," Serap

nt off her blouse. "But I wasn't going to miss seei

ched her hands

early?" she asked, try

with a half-laugh. "He didn'

eart stuttere

y. The estate is just for appearances-galas, family dinner

"Enjoy your breakfast. The staff have been i

na stood there in the grand hall

just unwant

wanted by

r. She was a placeholder. A symbol. A Blake wrapped in whit

ly disappear into the backgroun

battlefield, she'd stop