“No,” I say again, to the empty chamber. To him, wherever he’s watching from. “You don’t get to dress me like a doll. You don’t get to—”
My voice cracks.
I press my hands to my face, breathing hard.
He’s trying to make me comfortable. Trying to make this feel like a choice. Like I’mstayinginstead of trapped.
And I almost fell for it.
Almost touched that beautiful fabric and thought about how nice it would feel.
But I won’t.
I won’t let him erase me like that. Won’t let him replace who I am with who he wants me to be.
Even if my clothes are torn and dirty and wrong for this place.
Even if that silk would feel like heaven.
I won’t.
I sit back down on the floor, as far from the discarded clothing as I can get, and wrap my arms around myself.
The chamber breathes around me.
Silent.
Watching.
I try counting again to keep myself grounded. One, two, three, four—
I lose track at thirty-seven.
Start over.
Lose track again.
My Ether pulses, unstable, and I shove it down before it can flare.
But holding it backhurts. Like trying to hold my breath underwater for too long.
I can’t keep this up forever.
Eventually, something’s going to break.
I just don’t know if it’ll be my magic or me.
I press my forehead to my knees and try to think of the guys. Their faces. Their voices.
But the memories feel distant. Blurred.
Like I’m already forgetting.
“Please,” I whisper into the silence. “Please find me.”
But no one answers.
Just the chamber, breathing around me.
