#Chapter 24 Trust Lost Freely

Ember I wake the same way I have every morning for the past week to my mark burning. Bile rises to my throat as panic threatens to consume me yet again. I sit up, clutching my shoulder, my chest rising and falling rapidly as awareness of my failure fully sets in. I had been caught. It didn’t matter that I had enough money to buy the potion. It doesn’t matter if I can’t leave the palace. My opportunity is gone. My mind races as I struggle to think of other options. No one knows about my secret. There is no one I can ask for help. I have to figure out another solution on my own. It is only a matter of time before Prince Kaine realizes that I have been deceiving him and rejects me. Avoiding is not something I can do forever. Nara paces in my mind, more reactive than ever, anger bleeding through her silence. She doesn’t need to say anything. I can feel her disapproval. Her frustration and anger that I had even I tried to buy the potion in the first place is evident. My refusa