28Alex dismissed everyone who had once been close.
Or, at least, she tried.
The only one who refused to listen to her was Mallia, who insisted that, as her lead Mistress and her friend, she would not leave her alone in a great time of need.
The knock on the door that announced her arrival one such afternoon was purposefully ignored, and because there was no lock on the bedroom door, Mallia allowed herself in as if nothing was astray. “If you think for one moment I’m going to stand around while you’re wasting away to absolutely nothing, you’re entirely incorrect, Empress,” she said while Alex continued to remain in bed.
Alex wanted to both believe her and hate her for it.
Every day she would come in, pull back the heavy curtains, draw her bath and lay out her clothes.
Alex had fought
