-Lara-
“Well?” The queen urged me, and I realized I had just been standing there, staring at her while my words felt stuck in my throat. I couldn’t say them, could I? I shook my head slightly, trying to push the old memories away. That was how I had survived for so long—by pushing such things deep into my mind.
“Lara?”
I hadn’t realized I had closed my eyes until the queen’s voice brought me back to reality. I met her gaze and saw concern in her eyes. Quickly, I put on my brave mask, like I had done with my sister after she saved me from him, and answered her question about my well-being.
“I’m fine,” I lied.
My voice sounded calm and normal, yet it felt strange to me. How was I always able to make it sound so composed when inside, a storm of powerful emotions threatened to push to th
