#Chapter 146 – A Gilded Cage

Lila I curled deeper into the window alcove, knees tucked to my chest, arms wrapped around them. The late afternoon light spilled through the glass in dull gray ribbons. The room was quiet except for the tick of the clock and the occasional rustle of wind against the leaded windows. I’d barely moved since morning. Every time I did, I felt like I was being tracked by eyes I couldn’t see. A soft knock came, and I felt the sluggish stirring of Ruby. Not the guards, then; the knock was too confident. The door opened and Damon stepped inside carrying a tray with warm buttered bread a few slices of fresh pear. He’d trimmed the edges himself. I could tell because they were rough and uneven. “I brough you a snack, you should eat something,” he said, setting it down on the low table. His tone was casual, but I could hear the strain and worry in it. He looked tired. His shirt was clean, but his eyes were shadowed, and his hands lingered near the tray for a moment like he was un