I sighed and turned around, so my back was facing her. I pulled some hair away from the hairline on my neck and ran my finger over the scarring to make sure the hair was out of the way. Her quick footsteps echoed in the foyer as she camecloser.
“Why is yours scarred?” she demandedharshly.
I turned around to faceher.
“I was not welcomed. I was an embarrassment and a shameful addition to the world. It was cut from my skin, but it grew back, despite thescarring.”
Ethan, Liam, Sean, and Michan all stood between us as they too discovered what Iwas.
“Guards!” Octavia calledout.
Four guards rushed to herside.
“Take River Kulver and lock him up for the time being,” sheordered.
“Octavia,” I began as two guards took hold of mybiceps.
“Wait! Why?” Sean blurted. He did not understandyet.
