Requested.
It was a strange word. Nothing about her life had been a “request”. Not in a long time. She’s spent more time now under the rule of Alphas who wanted to control her than growing up in Midnight Crest. Home seemed like a fever dream at times. Maybe Kade was simply her mind’s way of giving her something to hold on to.
Ranulf huffed and left without another word. He acted as if his mere proximity to Lyra was an inconvenience. She shared the sentiment.
The women guided her forward without speaking. One unlatched the collar long enough to pull the fabric of Lyra’s shirt over her head. The other turned on a stream of water that poured from a spout coming from an enormous stone basin.
The water was warm.
Not freezing, not boiling, just… warm.
Lyra gasped without meaning to.
