a
Silas's agitated breathing came through the wood, a muffled, percussive sound that echoed in
feel his immense presence, a low hum of po
nd unspooled, driftin
ega territory was a
ere the scullions, the laundresse
me. She tried
hair and weave be
ft counterpoint to the harsh world. "He is merely occupied by ma
'father' in my own head. A child's desperate lie
or affection, I fe
las as a stern, silent guardian, waiting only for
turned
dry bread. Nana had switched on the te
feed from the
ed. The chamber was festooned with w
oming-of-a
not f
, Selene's young
pet, a diamond tiara glittering in her hair. S
panned to
ng there, holdin
stage, Silas envelope
es. He looked proud. He was overflowing w
the microphone, his voice imbued with a warmth I h
perfect, lum
k me. I swallowed the mouthful of coarse crumbs, and they scraped a path down my throat, tri
reservoir of love. He simply had no in
a's old datapad and logged into
gh-ranking members could view his posts
as a shrin
over a slain deer, the caption readi
er birthdays, her vaca
own, my hand
my own acco
tered the Warrior trials for young wolves, figh
to the main house, clinging to the hope
to him, he had only star
ed. "You manipulate your opponents. It is the witch's blo
ruel words, I dro
out my certificates of merit, my wa
ingless scraps, ripping and shre
rcelain of the toilet and vomited, heaving until my stomach
door pulled my ghost
Bang
boomed from the hallway. "O
door. He was finally h
know yet. He's still angry about whatever Selene told him. He has no idea
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