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“I wouldn’t have let him hurt them,” he says.

“No, just Abbie, right? Get away from me, Matitus. You’re just as bad as him,” I tell him, getting up and checking the soup. I hear Matitus growl, stalking out.

Pouring the soup into the bowl, I grab a spoon and a bottle of water, walking toward Abigail’s room. I use my hip to nudge the door open, finding Marian sitting next to her. Her head is in her hands as she stares down at Abigail worriedly. Placing the tray on the bedside table, I brush Abigail’s hair from her face. Her eyes snap open, and Marian looks relieved.

“My Claire,” she whispers, tears in her eyes.

“Claire is fine. I promise I won’t let them harm her.”

“No, Elora, you don’t understand,” she gasps, sitting up.

“Understand what?” I ask, glancing at the door.

“I promise, Abigail, I won’t let them take her from you.”

Abigail goes to say something else, her eyes dart over my shoulder. I feel his presence as I turn around.

Silas is leaning against the doorframe, watching us. I turn back to Abigail, ignoring him.

“Come, Elora, Marian will look after Abigail.”

“I am not going anywhere with you,” I tell him, not even trying to hold the venom from my voice.

Silas snarls, stepping into the room. Abigail’s eyes go wide, and Marian nudges me with her arm. I know Silas is directly behind me. He leans down next to me, daring me to go against him.

“Go, I will stay with her,” Marian says, peering up at Silas nervously.

Leaning over the bed, I kiss Abigail on the cheek.

“I will come back in the morning, I promise,” I tell her, turning around.

Silas steps to the side, motioning to the door with his hand, and I stalk out. I can feel him following behind me, goosebumps rising on my skin. I head toward the office when Silas grips my arm, pulling me to a stop.

“What?” I ask, confused.

“Matitus and Dragus are upstairs, dinner is ready. You need to eat.”

“I’m not hungry,” I tell him, shaking his arm off.

Silas crosses his arms over his chest, staring at me, making me groan as I walk past him and up the stairs.

“Good,” Silas mutters and I fight the urge to smack him. Stomping in the bedroom, I see the chain on the floor still attached to the bed. Stopping, Silas walks into me. Turning around, I pull on his pants.

“Little early for that, isn’t it?” he says, a smile on his face.

I roll my eyes, digging through his pocket and finding a little silver key. Marching over to the bed, I undo the lock attached to the end of the chain holding it to the bed, then pick up the chain. Trudging to the window, I shove it up, opening it. Matitus and Dragus watch me with silly grins on their faces. I look out and see a couple of guards below. Annoyed, I grab the chain, singing out the window, “Watch your heads!” and throw it out, watching as they quickly sidestep and it lands in the snow. I hear them growl, they say nothing. Shutting the window, I turn around. Silas is shaking his head, and Matitus laughs, looking down at the floor.

“What?” I ask, crossing my arms.

Silas steps forward.

“You just threw the key out the window with the chain,” he says.

“So?” I ask.

Silas looks down at my ankle, making me follow his gaze. Argh. I groan, realizing Dragus only broke the chain, not the padlock, and it is still attached to my ankle like an anklet. Great. Now I have to walk all the way down there.

I move toward the door, Silas’s arm wraps around my waist, placing me on the end of the bed.