Chapter 24

~ Elara’s POV

I laid gently on the bed and watched Rufus drift off to sleep. I was so grateful to him for treating me like a real human being. Everyone that I had known all treated me like trash but he was the only one that had treated me right. I could only hope that his intentions were pure and wasn’t treating me well because he needed something from me. The thought of going through what I had at Rayel and Hazel's hands made me cautious. They had not treated me horribly, but their treatment of me hadn't been kind either. Rayel had been harsh and cruel at any opportunity he got while Hazel had only been kind to me because of what I could give them… a baby and an heir for Rayel. I placed my hand on my belly, suddenly feeling a modicum of guilt for running away once I found out that I was pregnant. I wondered if they had seen the bloody dress I had deliberately planted in the forest to make them believe that I was dead.

Did they mourn my passing, or was I simply a replaceable cog in t