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She nods, a spark of hope lighting her face. "Yes. Being outside, in nature…it always made me happy before." Her voice drops asshe nods to the shuttered window. "And I just know it would be nicer than being stuck inside my room all day—or night, I guess."
I bristle slightly at the critique of her quarters. But she's right. Compared to the freedom of the outdoors, I suppose it must feel dreary.
Aurora is no creature of the darkness. She was meant for open skies and fresh air, not concrete and iron. If granting her a small freedom keeps her spirits from fading, it's a reasonable compromise, surely?
But one I may come to regret, if she exploits it.
"No," I tell her. "I cannot allow it."
"But—"
"No," I snarl again, with more force than necessary—but I am unused to having to repeat myself.
But as I see Aurora flinch, something unpleasant washes over me. I'm not used to having to control my temper around others; I rarely lose it in the first place. Irrationality is a liability in my world. But seeing Aurora cower from me awakens an unfamiliar feeling.
Shame.
I steady myself before I speak again. "The risk is too great during the day. But..." I hesitate, hating to make this concession. "But if some time in the gardens at night will lift your spirits, I suppose I'll permit it. You'll have Lyssa or one of my other people as an escort, of course."
Aurora's face transforms with joy and gratitude, as if I've given her the moon itself, and she reaches over to grab my hand. "Thank you, Hadria. Truly."
I let her squeeze my fingers for a moment before tugging free and brushing off her gratitude. "It's nothing. Just mind you don't track dirt inside."
Still, something warm stirs in my chest at being able to grant this small comfort to her.
"The perimeter fence is electrified," I tell her as I go back to my meal. "I would advise against testing its voltage."
Her smile fades. Good.
She must understand this is not a game.
CHAPTER 11
Aurora
Up until now,this dinner with Hadria was not what I was expecting. But her unspoken threat about the electric fence brings me back down to earth with a bump.
"What's going to happen to me?" I finally ask her.
Hadria regards me coolly over the rim of her wine glass. "You already know that. You'll remain here, in my home. It will be your home, too, like it is for everyone else here."
Are all those staff members prisoners too?I want to ask. But I already know the answer to that. They come and go as they please. Some of them do live here on the grounds of the estate—Mrs. Graves, for one—but even then, they can go outside and walk in the gardens.
But I'm to be kept in darkness forever, shut up in this strange house that feels more suffocating with every passing second.
"And...for how long?" It's the question I've been dreading to ask.
Hadria sets down her glass now. She leans forward, regarding me intently. "Understand this, Aurora—youbelongto me. Yourlife is mine. And I won't ever let you go. It's best that you get used to the idea as soon as possible and stop sulking, like you have been."
I open my mouth in outrage to protest but she silences me with a raised hand.
"However," she continues, "I won't be cruel to you, not like my brother would have been. You'll want for nothing here. I'm not a monster—or at least, not the same breed as my brother."
Not a monster? What else could you call someone who intends to hold me captive for the rest of my life?
Sensing my defiance, Hadria's eyes harden. "You will obey the rules I've set. Attempts to contact the outside world or escape will be punished. But if you cooperate, you'll find your time here can be very comfortable. Even happy. And I want you to be happy, Aurora. You're much more pleasant when you are."
I clench my fists in my lap, trembling. I want to scream at her that she can keep me here, locked up, even keep me out of the sunlight if she likes—but she can'tmakeme be happy just because it suits her.
