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“Your makeup,” Andrya gasps. “I’ll be right back.” Taking off at a dead run, she leaves the room. She’s right, Silla’s makeup is wrecked from crying.

“Do you want to do this with us? You can say no. Remember that your words matter, even if Isaac and I do tend to act like cavemen. The castle isn’t a safe place for you, is it?” Grayson asks.

I watch her body, breaths, and every small tic that I can remember. I want her truths. I’m cataloging every truth bomb away so I can ask her about it later, when we aren’t at the mercy of the impatient black-haired tiny demon who is currently sitting in the car outside of the camp.

“It’s going to be so hard to leave now that I’ve seen you all,” Silla says sadly. “I don’t know how safe you’ll be because Cinder’s moods are so capricious, but…”

“Pet,” Sidney murmurs, moving to put his hand on the back of her neck. Silla turns her head to look at him, while Grayson buries his face in her neck. We all ache to have her around more. Anywhere away from Cinder and Lana has to be a better place to be. We don’t know what happens in the castle now that Silla has emerged from the dungeon. She may be living in a worse hell. “Your body is holding on to so much fear and shame. It’s worth asking Cinder if it takes you away from her. I’m worried about your continued health, Little Love. If we can all be together, let’s make the counter offer gracefully and carefully. You have so much to offer this mission.”

“Why isn’t she pushing for you to go?” Ayden asks as Andrya walks back in. She’s breathing heavily, and I can tell she ran hard in her flats. Thank the Gods she dressed for comfort today.

“She enjoys torturing me too much,” Silla says simply, moving away to take the makeup bag from Andrya.

“I’ll do it, just sit for me,” Andrya tells her, placing her hand on Silla’s back to encourage her to sit.

Dread pulls in my stomach.Please say yes, Cinder.

Five

GRAYSON

Andrya puts Silla back together, but I wish she didn’t have to wear any of this. This feels like a fabrication of my girl. I have so many questions that I’m biting back, because it’s not the time. The other four people who love Silla are doing the same, noting how damn thin she is, and the careful way she holds herself. As if she’s in pain, or has been for so long, that she’s used to bracing herself for it. The makeup, the hair, the clothes are just being used to cover up the ugliness happening in her life.

It makes all kinds of terrifying treasonous thoughts fill my mind.

Standing, Silla walks over to where I’m leaned over, arms braced over my desk.

“Let’s do this before Lana comes looking for me,” she sighs. “I know Laura told her I was talking to you all, but the little shit is petty.”

My lips twitch at her comment, but I am worried about her. This little stunt may cost her. Sitting in my chair, I move the mouse to wake up my computer, only to see there’s an incoming call. And it’s the Queen. Fuck.

Hitting accept, I incline my head to her. “Good evening, Your Majesty,” I tell her, as the shadows have encroached in the hour and a half that we’ve been speaking to Silla.

“I understand your meeting has run late? Is everything going alright?” Cinder asks, looking down at her nails as if bored. I saw her cold blue eyes though, and they’re furious. Her navy dress is cut in harsh lines, with a white buttoned up top. It almost looks militant. The Queen is definitely attempting to groom Silla in her image.

“Drizella has been telling us your proposal,” I explain, ignoring her questions. I have my professional persona firmly in place, though I know she won’t buy it. I just don’t want her to think that we’re running late because we were fucking. “We had a lot of questions, so it’s our fault that we’re running a bit behind. Our apologies for that.”

Nodding, Cinder crosses her arms as she rocks back and forth on her heels. She appears to be in her office tonight.

“And what is your answer?” she asks, brow raised.

Taking a breath, I shoot my shot for us all. “We want to serve the crown, but have a request that we wish to be considered?”

“Is this a question or a demand?” Cinder asks, rolling her eyes. “What could you possibly wish to request? It’s all very cut and dry. There are people who wish to assassinate me! I would very much like to sleep peacefully in my bed, thank you, without worrying about having my throat slit.”

I very much despise this woman and her dramatics.

“Did you send Drizella back to the car? Where is that lazy girl, anyway?” she complains.

“I’m here,” Silla says quickly, moving so Cinder can see her. “I was just going to call you to discuss their concerns before they formally accepted. We must have been on the same wavelength, because you beat me to it.”

Scoffing, the Queen rolls her eyes. “We are on no such thing, you stupid girl. You’re simply trying to save your hide.”

“You sent Drizella here to ambush us, knowing we thought she was dead. We had questions,” I tell her firmly. “Meetings are meant for open communication, within reason, and that is what was happening.”

Cinder wrinkles her nose, her eyes on Silla. Fuck. I’m worried for her. We shouldn’t ask for this, but at the same time, she could kill Silla if she has to stay in the castle. All it would take is one fit of uncontrollable rage.

“Fine, I don’t play nice,” the Queen snarls. “State your piece. Lana is tired of waiting, and I am not responsible for what she does outside of my sight.”