the door is wide open behind her. Grayson placed a spell on my room when he first brought me here so no one can enter without my permission, even him. Jayne is the only person I’ve given permission to, so she may enter whenever she wishes. After she was used as bait to make me compliant yesterday, the first thing I did when I returned was make sure she had a safe place she could run to.
“Sorry I startled you…” She trails off, placing her bundle of sheets on the edge of the bed before walking slowly towards me, moving unhurriedly as she places a hand on my shoulder. “I was going to ask if you were okay, but I think that might be a stupid question.” As soon as she touches me and I feel the warmth from her hand, I know I am awake.
“I had a nightmare.”
She nods at my comment, her eyes scanning me as if to check that I’m whole and unharmed, and I get the feeling she’s doing it as much for herself as she is for me.
“I don’t blame you,” she soothes, and I see her blue eyes well with tears. For a second, I’m worried she’s about to start crying, but she merely takes a deep breath and continues, “I did too. I dreamt they were taking you away from me again.” Her voice hitches and she pulls me in for a tight hug. Usually, hugs make me feel uncomfortable, but right now, I think we both need this. I tentatively lift my arms and place them around her, reciprocating the embrace.
After a couple of seconds, she pulls away to look at me, her hands resting on my shoulders. She seems different now. There’s a sharpness in her eyes that makes me want to flinch away. “I won’t let that happen again,” she vows, anger lining her tone. I don’t know how she plans on doing that, she’s just a human woman, but then I remember what she said yesterday—that I was the closest thing she had to a daughter. I’ve seen how women can turn fierce when their child is threatened and learned never to cross a mother. Is that really how she feels towards me? A nobody?
Within the span of a second, her whole persona changes and she’s back to the woman I know. “Oh, Clarissa.” Her voice is soft, and she smiles gently as if I’m about to break. “I can practically see your thoughts flashing across your face.” Her hand comes up and cups my cheek. “I love you like a daughter, and I know you can’t say that back to me, so don’t feel pressured to,” she finishes, as she turns a critical eye on me just as a strong blast of wind comes through the window.
“We need to get you ready. The king has called a meeting, all must attend, even the servants.” Her voice is carefully blank as she bustles over to the window, pulling it closed.
Dread lines my stomach, and I have to take a few deep breaths. Can I face the king again after everything that happened yesterday? The faces of the fallen slaves flash through my mind and my heart hardens. Yes, I can and will face the murderers, if only to honour those they slayed.
Something deep inside me pulses as if in agreement, and that rage, my constant companion, burns within, fuelling me and giving me what I need to face the day ahead. I will not fall apart, I will not let them win, not after surviving being a slave against all odds for the last twelve years. I’d worried that being cared for was making me soft, but I will become what I need to, to get through this.
I wash while Jayne prepares my outfit. When I come out, I raise a single eyebrow at her choice of attire, but realise it’s fitting for the occasion. She helps me dress in a gown that’s in the same dark blue of the magicians’ colours, claiming me as one of their own. It’s simple in style, with a scooping neckline and long sleeves, and it cinches in at my waist before flaring out slightly as it falls to the floor in precise pleats. There is nothing unusual about it until she reaches the final item—a black cape. It’s simple, with a small gold clasp holding it together at my collarbone, and the elegant cut makes it flattering as it drapes around my