came too

My knees were tight and stiff. The mud had dried to my face, as I dr

e. Not even my father. The house buzzed with preparations. Servants r

ed to be my night.

nted me. When Caius walked into the hall, his hair still damp from a bath, his shirt hanging open at the

trick my mind had conjured. But then Liana followed him. Barefoot. Wearing his shirt

y head spun, and I was this clo

ld feel the hairs in my neck rise as my father drew closer to were

ays fading into silence. "What?" I whispered, though no one was liste

e is strong. Worthy. She carries t

us's like a queen claiming her throne. "Don't embarrass yourself, my dear sister. He doesn't want you I mean who would. Look at you" My ch

ng through me. "Please, don't allow this

h a snarl, eyes burning with irritation instead of pity. "You should be

going to be a living hell, somebody please! Help!. But I refused to fall. Not in front of them. Not when their eyes were gleaming with victory. "Please," I begged again, the sound raw, ragged. "Father, don't let them do this to me. Don't throw me away like this. I can stay here and be your servant, but please don't let them take me away.0 But he turned his back, dismissing me like an unwanted dog. And just like that, my fate was sealed. I crumpled to the ground watching as the servants resumed the duties and my world spun. The rest of the day blurred. Servants fitted Liana for a dress that had been meant for me. The gown I had chosen. The silks I had touched with trembling hands, imagining what it would feel like to walk into the circle of fire and bond myself to my mate. Now it was hers. Every laughter that floated from her room, every murmur of Caius's voice beside her, felt like a blade driving deeper into me. When the sun began to set, I sat on the edge of my bed,