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While Galen sent a whip of flame at my back, I prayed Raf and Louis had gotten the humans out. I visualized them walking through the forest towards Monrovia. They would come for me. We’d go home.

He sent another lick of flame towards bare skin, making me scream as my body involuntarily arched, snapping me back to the present. He was making thin, precise lines on either side of my spine. Slash after slash, he burned over the same patch of skin in sadistic repetition .

I lost my footing and then Robert and Alaric were keeping me upright as Galen continued his assault. Each lash destroyed another sliver of my soul, while I waited for the one that would finish me off.

The smell of burnt flesh, blood, and salty tears made my stomach roil and I began to heave up bile.

This was more painful than anything I had ever known and would ever know, because this went beyond torture, this was personal .

This was a loss of faith and the deepest kind of heart break—the ultimate betrayal from someone I’d trusted and loved.

He’d broken me, but not in the way he hoped.

I’d never be his, nor would I ever be the same.

Forevermore, I’d walk hand in hand with the ghost of the woman I'd almost been—someone who believed in love, someone who believed in happy endings.

It was devastating that Galen, of all people, had been the one to teach me what romantic love was.

My naivety had been his opportunity. He'd helped me transform into a butterfly, only to burn my wings before I could take flight.

"Eliana… I just want to talk. You're only making things worse for yourself—for Marigold. I know you're in the loft. I can smell your fear. Come down now and I won't hurt you."

My mother had stopped breathing, but her grip around me remained firm.

"I'm only going to repeat myself one more time. Come down willingly and I won't hurt Marigold," he said with lethal calm.

Silent tears fell down my mother's face as she slowly detached herself from me with a shaky sigh. "Promise to leave her out of this, Fallon," my mother said softly.

It was quiet enough that her voice traveled through the rafters—quiet enough that I could hear his steady breathing before he answered, "I promise."

I shook my head furiously. No. No… she was so scared. I wouldn't let her go. Together, we could fight him. Together, we could get away.

She moved away from me, towards the ladder, and I lunged for her. "No—you can't," I hissed. "Let me come with you, let me help."

Her head hung low. "The only thing that matters is keeping you safe. Please, stay here—no matter what happens. I'll draw him out, and then you must run, Goldie. Far from here, far from him. Take Skye and go to Ophelia. I’ll join you when I can." Her chocolate eyes held endless depth, endless love.

"No… stop." My voice cracked as she descended the ladder. I clung to the sleeves of her white cotton dress, refusing to let her leave.

"Let me go, sweetheart," she said with determination. "It'll be okay."

I refused, but with a burst of magic, she sent me into a pile of hay . By the time I scrambled back to the ledge, my father was holding her by the shoulders, shaking her like a rag doll.

"You stupid, useless female," he growled. "Why can't you just obey your husband, for once?" He roared and shoved her down. She slid across the dirty ground as golden tendrils spilled across her face. It reminded me of the night I'd watched her take her last breaths.

"You bring this on yourself," he seethed. "Every time you run away. It's like you want me to punish you. What will it take to teach you that you're mine?" He kicked her in the ribs and I screamed.

Before I knew what I was doing, I'd climbed down the ladder and was standing beside him, tugging him back by his shirt, trying to make him stop. He kicked her again and she curled into herself.

"Stop," I said with a throat clogged with tears. Neither of them registered me as I continued to yell and scratch at him. Ice coated my fingers as fury consumed me. I was desperate to help her.

"Father," I cried. "Stop! You're going to kill her."

He finally turned, facing me with a detached expression.

Rage simmered underneath his dead stare.

His blonde hair was unkempt, hanging around his face, around his pointed ears.

Faerie ears. My father was Fae. And he was drunk, I realized.

The familiar, anxiety-inducing scent of faerie whisky rolled off his tongue as he said, “So what if I do? Are you going to stop me, love?"

His face was ruddier than I remembered. Cold terror trickled down my spine as his blue eyes began to morph, changing shape and color. Then emerald eyes, flickering with hellfire, met mine. Galen's eyes.

I gasped, stumbling back as he flashed a cheshire grin. Flame danced in his open palm. "I thought your mother told you to run," he purred. "You should've listened."

With bared fangs, he lunged for me. I leapt out of the way as he struck. When he spun back around, I was ready. I didn't hesitate as I plunged an ice dagger deep into his chest, right into his black heart. And twisted.

He took a step back in disbelief. Something like devastation spread across his face as he stared at me. When he collapsed to the ground, I was already at my mother's side, helping her up.

And then we ran.

Pain radiated down my spine. I'd escaped Galen in my dreams, but I was still very much captive in this living nightmare. The burns down my back were so severe, I wasn't sure I could run, even if I had the chance.

My father had abused my mother. And unknowingly, I'd repeated the cycle, finding a male just like him. How had I forgotten the terror I'd felt, hiding from my father as a child? Nausea gripped my stomach as I stared at my candle’s pulsing flame. If I became afraid of fire, then he’d win. Galen had burned me with my magic.

A blurry figure came into view. I wasn’t alone. I’d been fading in and out of lucidity since Galen had left me in a heap on the floor.

“Lusha…” I rasped when I recognized her strawberry blonde hair. I tried to sit up before lightning shot down my spine, causing me to hunch back down.

“Stay still,” she said. “You’ve been sleeping for nearly a day. I’m here to help. Your back isn’t healing because of the jasper.” She choked back a sob as she removed a strip of wet linen that had adhered to my skin, making me cry out.

“He expects me to go to the festival like this?”

She nodded. “Aye. Is there anything I can do? Beyond dressing your wounds.” The way she was staring at me…

she wanted to help. But what could she do?

Find Raf , was my first thought. But if he could easily be found, he’d be here.

I tried to think through the fog of pain…

and then I latched onto something that had a low probability of working.

“I have an idea… though it’s not a great one.” I told her the plan and she promised to do what she could before applying a cooling balm that helped numb the pain. And then I was alone, lost in my misery.

The door opened and I didn’t bother lifting my head. Lusha . “Your message has been delivered, Your Grace. I brought your gown for this evening. I’ve been instructed to give you a sponge bath and make you presentable.”

I gave her an assaulted look. “ Your Grace ? Lusha, please… call me Marigold. Look at me.” I was covered in bandages.

My hair hadn’t been washed in over a week and was coated in blood and sweat.

I was so tired. How did Galen expect me to stand tonight when I could barely move?

Every muscle in my back protested as I sat up.

“Alright, Marigold. Take it easy,” Lusha hushed, carefully checking my wounds. I felt a surge of hope when I thought about my dance partner. Raf would show if he could, if he was alive, but Galen would be prepared for that.

I was going to be bait for a trap. A new wave of pain had me clutching my stomach. If anything happened to Rafael because of me, I’d never forgive myself.

Lusha worked her magic; brushing tangles out of my hair, taking away small bruises, smoothing my hair, and cleaning my nails.

Next came the dress. It was a white satin, off-the-shoulder gown, embroidered with lace flowers.

Galen had a sick sense of humor. It was almost a replica of my debut dress, except tailored to faerie fashion.

It was simple and elegant and I hated it .

Which was good, since I’d bleed through it within the hour.

After much effort, Lusha helped me into it, spoon fed me, then forced water down my throat, like I was a helpless baby. This entire experience was demoralizing, but I’d be forever grateful for her kindness. When it was time for her to go, I clung to her. “Please, don’t leave me,” I begged.

Her face crumpled. “I must. Prince Galen will be coming to collect you soon. I’ll keep an eye out for his brothers. Be brave, sweet one.” She touched my cheek, but as she moved to leave, I gripped her wrist.

“Throw a shield around us,” I hissed. We were alone in the room but there were guards outside in the hall. She didn’t hesitate though, shielding us in a thin layer of water.

“Raf and Louis found the abducted humans,” I said in a low murmur. “They’re planning to bring them here. If I get out, I’m going to try and help them escape to Erador. I’ve been cut off from any more updates, but this is important…”

Lusha nodded, staring at me with round eyes as I continued, “The Elders, Sylvia, and Galen are exterminating humans—they’ve found a way to steal their magic and plan to hoard it, giving the Crown complete control.

You need to warn as many people as you can and build a resistance.

If I make it back to Erador, we’re going to break the curse and then we’re coming back to fight. I won’t abandon you here. I promise.”

Her eyes were cartoonishly large as she exited the room without another word. Even if I died tonight, at least someone knew what was happening. I did all I could. Now it was time to wait.

I sat on the bed, staring at the door. Panic slithered its way through me—squeezing my heart, clawing into my stomach. Galen was going to burst in any moment and then I’d be on display, surrounded by crowds and chaos. I was so weak. Would I get the chance to beg a stranger for help? I had to try.

Before I could strategize any further, the door opened. I held my breath, expecting to see Galen, but instead a pair of bright blue eyes stared back at me.