The maid trembled between the two guards, her thin shoulders shaking with each sob. Flour still dusted her apron. Her hands were red and cracked from years of scrubbing, hands I recognized because they had once been mine.
"Please," she whispered again. "He has my brother. He said if I didn't do it, he'd—" Her voice broke.
Caleb stood over her, radiating enough Alpha command to make the candle flames bow. The girl dropped to her knees, pressing her forehead to the cold stone. Kira held the packet of silver-glass in her open palm, her expression carved from ice.
I looked at the girl. Then at Caleb. Then at the wilted moonflowers that had nearly poisoned me in my sleep.
Six years ago, that could have been me. Forced to serve a monster. Threatened with someone I loved. Trapped between betr
