Adea Odis bowed and I followed him, fighting the burning need to run out of the room. My heartbeat thumped so hard in my chest I wouldn’t have been surprised if he could hear it. My blood pounded loudly in my ears and every breath of air was as cold as it was dry. I could barely hear the sound of my feet as it slapped against the floor. Beta Odis’ legs were long and I struggled to keep with his brisk walk. He didn’t utter a word to me as we left the dining-hall. I knew very well what was about to happen back there and I was relived beyond belief that I got away. This was the first time I avoided him. I felt a rush knowing he hadn’t been able to take what he wanted from me. As soon as he started he didn’t stop. In the last few days that I had spent with him I’d gotten to know him. He too

