“Look at me,” hemanded.


    Iplied quickly and saw the deep frown marring his features. He looked as tired as I still felt.


    Evidently they weren’t sleeping well either.


    “You have seen what happens to ves that try to escape repeatedly,” he said gesturing to the


    skeleton along the wall.


    “Yes, Master Damien, I won’t try to escape again. I promise,” I said meekly.


    Master Christof ced my cor back around my neck. The ornate cuffs were reattached to my wrists


    and ankles. Master Evanid a kneeling ce at my feet and gestured. I knelt down and took a long


    drink from him. They also fed me a Large portion of the worms


    Once I was done they stood me up and wrapped me in the bulky brown tunic. Master Damien motioned


    for me to follow him. I did, but the wound on my foot gave me a nasty Limp. Master Evan slung me into


    his arms and carried me to the waiting transport pad.


    Once we were home they took me straight to the shower. I panicked when they removed my cor and


    cuffs, but they just wanted to clean underneath them. As they scrubbed and washed me Master Bane


    spoke up.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    “We know you did not try to escape from us in the way most ves do, but it seemed that way. The


    compound demanded punishment for you. Don’t ever do that again,” he said seriously.


    Ang’s Library


    “I won’t Master Bane, I promise,” I said quietly.


    “It is not safe for you outside our care, Ciara. We will take you to explore if that is what you wish to do,


    but you cannot go alone,”


    Master Christof advised. es, Master Christof.”


    “You understand we treated you better in the vige than any ve has ever been,” Master Evan said


    pulling through knots in my hair.


    “Thank you, Master Evan,” I said automatically.


    “We were very upset when Randolf struck you and more upset when he tried to…” Christof didn’t finish


    and his eyes closed for a moment.


    He had looked horrified.


    “Although you did speak to him,” Master Bane reminded me, “we had not given him permission to strike


    you or to use you. He overstepped your punishment. Damien beat him for that infraction.”


    “Thank you, Master Damien,” I replied watching the dirty water drain away.


    “We would not Let them handle you after that,” Master Kein exined kissing my shoulder. “We could


    not bear to see them touch you. Your pain affected us deeply…”


    It had been them watching me. I had been right.


    “Oh,” I said instead and added a Little embarrassed, “I thought it was because you liked my designs,


    Masters.”


    “We adored your designs, Ciara. That gave us plenty of excuse to remove you from that ce,“ Master


    Damien said.


    They treated all my sore spots, including my aching foot and my bruised jaw. My eyelids started to


    droop during the care and I started yawning.


    Afterwards, theyid me in their bed. It felt like heaven it was so soft.