Father’s caramel eyes assessed me from head to toe. His nostrils flared as he glanced over his shoulder to Margot. “You couldn’t find her a blue dress?” Margot’s gaze dropped to the floor. Father retrieved a glass vial and small knife from his coat pocket. Without needing his instruction, I swallowed the bile rising in my throat and held out my hand. Gods. There was no going back, was there? Not after this. Father took a firm hold of my fingers and dragged the knife across my skin. Pain lanced through my palm, spreading up my arm. Tears swam in my eyes, but I blinked them away as Father tilted
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