pte

dr

a's

around me as I leaned

t's just get to my r

and helped me sit. The familiar lavender scent of her chamb

e doctor or somet

my hand. "I'm fine," I managed to

nge pull, all faded as if it had never happened. The air

ated, meeting her

ith furrowed brow

w. I've never felt anything like it

dened sudde

at her. "Y

. maybe it's the mate bond. It's your birthday tomorro

raced.

can't believe it! I can't wait! If you find your mate tomorrow, may

? It had never felt like an option for me. But now... the thought cr

eaning to

h, look who's smiling! That settles it, you

. I'm a servant. I won't even b

of her hand. "Tomorrow, you're not a

esses, Lyra. All my clothes are worn-o

ous smile, the kind that meant

id, standing and moving toward her w

rdrobe, humming under her breath. She threw op

thing on a hanger...a long, flowing dress in the

its silk folds. It looked impossibly soft, like water running between

this?" I asked

e dress you're going to wear t

. "I can't wear something like that." My fingers tightene

t unyielding. "Hey, it's your birthday too

ng so pretty. Every stitch whispered of a world I didn't belong to, yet Lyra

a little less heavy, giving me a hand to hold

brushing against the cool silk

to see you in this tomorrow. You'

flutter in my chest, a st

slightly ajar. If Mira or any of the other maids spotted me here, in

t left my fingers raw

my room now,"

tance. "Okay... but try not to do any

Okay... and

moment before I stepped away. With the dress clutche

g for the sound of approaching footsteps

ally with this dress in my hands. Jealou

that led to my tiny, cramped room

s sweeping over me with open d

tightened

my hands, and her brow arched. "

No, I didn't steal this, I swea

owed. "Lyra g

on the hanger. "Yes. She sa

omething this expensive? Even I've never even gotte

anted to," I muttered, h

e ends of her hair around her fingers. Then she gav

, my heart pounding, and I slipped

Setting the dress gently on my narrow bed, I

o glow in the dim light, al

ung to my skin and hair, and no matter how

ar of soap slipping against my skin. I wrapped my ol

f oil I used for my skin. But th

k... wa

was a full rip from the wais

y heart stopped, then slamm

no,