This fate also led to profound repudiation and was not worth the fleeting sense of victory or gratification it provided.
Still, she was now lumped with them, and as the thought hit hard, she started to hyperventilate.
With a cry, she searched the room for an escape.
She found a set of doors leading to what appeared to be a patio.
She rushed to them and flung them open, stumbling outside to the fresh air.
Mak’s outright anger and rejection landed with a gut punch.
Breathing in harsh gasps, she bent over the railing, eyes unseeing to the horizon.
Chapter 9
SABA
Even in the stillness of the night, the lakeside pulsated with vibrant energy.
Crickets chirped in a rhythmic symphony, owls hooted, and the rustling of leaves whispered secrets in the dark.
Yet, as the Sauvage’s newŠarim, Saba was unable to appreciate the beauty, her soul and spirit drowning, legless, lost.
In a desperate search for peace, her eyes tracked over theSombra’sunlikely moon, which bathed the lake in a soft, silvery glow.
One that was even more wondrous, given it existed in the heart of a dreadnought.
Still, its beauty escaped her, her heart wrenching with the sorrow, disappointment, and the loss of her freedom.
When she agreed to Shiloh’s mad plan, she hoped for some semblance of connection with her new husband, a glimmer of understanding or compassion.
Instead, after the fake civility of the wedding ceremony and his open rejection of her a few moments ago, it felt like she was covered in sackcloth and ashes.
‘Šarim,’ a voice said.
Saba jolted, turning to glimpse a tall, elegant synth beauty in a glimmering dress and heels.
‘Sorry to surprise you, my name is Miral. I oversee the Signet strong guards’ needs and sometimes even act as their assistant.’
Saba dashed the tears away from her face. ‘Of course. Come in.’
Saba gestured her in, and Miral stepped into the chamber.
She carried a covered tray, which she placed on the side cabinet in the chamber’s living space.
The alluring creature gave her a keen look as Saba faced her, hands fluttering on her dress front, unsure what to do or say.
‘Is everything to your liking?’ Miral asked.
Saba nodded, her chin moving in awkward jerks. ‘It’s beautiful,sante.’
‘I brought you some hot soup, bread, and port for your evening repast.’
Miral’s perceptive eyes spotted Saba’s tremulous face and wet cheeks as she spoke.
She had a no-nonsense demeanor, which Saba assumed was necessary to oversee the Signet Company’s daily operations.
Her penetrating gaze missed nothing, including Saba’s misery.