The girl continued to stare at her for a mont.
Her violet eyes, dulled from exhaustion, flickered with sothing unreadable, resentnt, perhaps, or re indifference.
And then, slowly, she closed them again and turned her face away.
Selene remained silent, studying her.
She waited several seconds before finally speaking, "Your master is gone now."
And paused, watching for any shift in the girl’s expression.
But there was nothing.
"He traded you," Selene continued, "For two of my servants. So now, by all rights, you’re under my command."
The curtains rustled from the breeze through the cracked window.
There was a mont of stillness.
Then the girl lifted her head, slowly, and turned back to Selene.
Her voice ca out dry, hollow. "What do you want to do?"
Selene’s lips curved into a faint smile. "Let’s start with sothing simple."
She stood up and walked closer, her tone now slightly lighter.
"First, how about we introduce ourselves properly?" She gestured to herself. "My na is Selene Glimor. Lady of this house."
She let that linger in the air for a heartbeat, then tilted her head ever so slightly, regarding the girl.
"And you?" she asked, softer this ti. "What’s your na?"
The girl stayed quiet for a mont, her violet eyes dull and unreadable as she gazed at Selene. Then, slowly, she lifted her head and turned to face her once more.
"I don’t have one," she said flatly.
Selene arched a brow, leaning back slightly in the chair. "No na? Or do you an he never let you keep it?"
The girl didn’t answer.
Selene sighed softly through her nose, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Well, I suppose that’s not surprising."
She stood, circling the side of the bed like a hawk studying prey, not with cruelty, but with the careful, sharp attention of soone who always planned ten steps ahead.
"I’m not your master, and I don’t intend to treat you like he did." She stopped beside the girl, her tone softening just a fraction. "But you are under my roof now. Which ans you serve my house. You’ll be fed, clothed, and treated accordingly."
The girl blinked once, her lashes low. "And in return?"
"In return," Selene said with a faint smile, "you’ll listen to . Follow my instructions. And most importantly, answer when I ask sothing."
She crouched slightly to et the girl’s eye level.
"So I’ll ask again. Do you rember your na? Even just a part of it?"
The girl hesitated, eyes lowered. Her fingers twitched against the chains. Her lips parted, then pressed together again.
But then, almost instinctively, she whispered under her breath, even surprising herself.
"Nyra."
Selene’s smile deepened, quite pleased. "Nyra," she repeated. "That’s a lovely na."
Then with a graceful motion, she straightened her back and turned.
Clap!
The sharp sound of her hands coming together echoed through the chamber.
Within monts, two maids stepped inside, heads bowed respectfully.
"Unchain her," Selene ordered, her voice smooth but firm.
The maids moved quickly.
With the soft jingle of tal and the click of latches, the chains fell away one by one.
As the final one ca undone from her neck, Nyra let out a deep sigh, her body sagging slightly, relief washing over her limbs.
She slowly raised her hands, gently rubbing the reddened skin around her wrists, then touched her neck, where faint bruises lingered.
Selene watched in silence for a mont, then turned to the maids again. "Draw her a bath. Make sure it’s warm. Give her fresh clothes. And sothing good to eat."
"Yes, my lady," the maids replied in unison with a small curtsy.
Then, just before stepping out, Selene looked at Nyra once more.
"You may rest today. Your duties will begin tomorrow."
Nyra nodded slowly, still holding her wrist.
Selene gave a small nod in return, then turned, her heels tapping softly on the polished floor as she exited the room, leaving Nyra behind in quiet.
As Selene walked down the long.
"It didn’t work on her," she muttered quietly.
Her erald eyes narrowed, there was a flicker of frustration behind them.
Yes, she had been using her mind-suppression charm the mont she stepped into the room.
Gentle, invisible tendrils ant to test obedience, to stir submission.
But the girl, Nyra, hadn’t even flinched. Not a twitch of hesitation. Nothing.
Selene’s fingers clenched at her sides.
"She must be higher ranked than ..." she murmured under her breath.
A frown tugged at her lips, her jaw tightened.
"How did that dumbass get his hands on soone like her?"
Then she sighed and she shook her head with a touch of resolve.
"Doesn’t matter. I’ll secure her for myself."
With that vow, she reached the end of the hallway and stepped out into the open.
The soft light of early evening filtered down over the Glimor estate’s lush gardens.
Flowers swayed gently in the breeze, birds chirped from above, and in the middle of the garden, a ripple shimred through the air.
Fwoosh!
Sari appeared from thin air, carrying an unconscious silver-haired girl in her arms.
Then she laid the girl down beneath a sprawling tree whose branches shaded the trimd grass below.
And without a word, she stepped aside.
Selene approached quietly. She crouched down near the girl, brushing aside a few loose strands of silver hair from her cheek.
"Poor girl," she whispered, almost to herself.
Then, gently, she placed her hand on Iris’s forehead and muttered sothing under her breath.
Her pupils vanished, her erald eyes flickered with a soft glow.
A mont passed and then another.
Her glowing eyes dimd, and she withdrew her hand, fingers trailing lightly along Iris’s cheek.
Then she rose slowly, stepping toward a chair near the small marble table and sat down.
She closed her eyes.
"Is he awake?" she asked after a few seconds without opening them.
Sari, standing a few feet away, gave a silent shake of her head. "Not yet, my lady. He’s physically fine, but exhausted."
Selene gave a small nod and stood up, dress swaying gently as the breeze carried the scent of the garden around her.
"Take to him."
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