[Bonus chapter] Stark

TWO CHAPTERS TONIGHT AND TOMORROW! (My "thank you" for adding the book to your library) Enjoy!

*****

The next morning, I was horrendously sore. It had taken another bath and some massage from Abigail before I could walk without looking stiff. And when we did leave the suite to join the others, the stairs were torture on my leg muscles that didn't want to brace at all. But once I was on the flat, it was bearable.

We were taken to the Turret Room again, and left milling around for a few minutes.

Ash was hovering like a mother goose, but I supposed I couldn't blame him, so I tried to pretend I didn't mind that he practically stood on the back of my shoes as I wedged myself around and between other women, trying to reach Emory.

She was standing at the back of the room near one of those narrow windows, whispering with her Defender, who looked very serious. And Emory did too.

But her face brightened when she saw me and she waved me over, reaching for my hands as I got close.