AEMIN
I look around.
"I can't believe I'm back here."
"Have a cup of tea," Arlen says, elegantly tucking a golden coil of hair over the curve of her ear. She sips delicately from a small porcelain cup, her blue eyes fixing on me.
"And take that off. I want to see your face."
"My hood? But what if someone—"
"No one will know." She says, and I hesitantly slip the dark cloth back from my head. And I'm shaking out my hair when I notice her stare.
I blink.
"Do I have something on my face?"
"No, just mesmerized." She says casually, saying something that I'd never be able to say so easily. "How did anyone not notice? You are too beautiful to be a slave."
I breathe. "Arlen, please."
Her brow perks up. "Am I wrong?"
Then she waves me toward her, and I'm a little surprised as she fixes m
