8
I woke groaning, my back on fire. Maddox stood over me in a second and I cringed away.
His hand soothed down my hip as he offered me a drink. “You have nothing to fear from me, Sabine. The beast desires your submission, nothing more.”
He reapplied salve to my body, but I moved slowly that morning. The warriors seemed distant, though they treated me with utmost care and respect. I remained quiet, acting with careful deference. The marks would take some time to heal, but I didn’t mind them so much as the thought that they would not bring me to see Brenna.
Later that day, Maddox brought me a blue gown to replace the one he’d torn.
“Should I wait to wear this? It is too fine a dress for everyday, but perhaps if we are going to the Thing.”
“Wear it, Sabine,” Maddox said. “We have trunkf
