Exposed

Startled, I raised my head and met Tana's gaze, finding her eyes glistening with emotion. It took a moment for me to process what she had said, but when I did, a thick wave of panic clogged my throat.

"I suspected as much, at least, that you were a slave," Dyson mentioned darkly. "But to think you actually had one of these rumored Soul Crests."

I closed my eyes and bowed my head, grasping the folds of my skirt so tightly my knuckles turned white. In the passion of the moment, I'd spoken without thinking. No matter how badly I yearned to crawl away and hide, there was no going back. Now that they knew, they'd surely send me back to the church, and-

Helron regarded me closely, absently scratching his chin. "As fascinating as your past seems, I can't say it's the most pressing matter. Escaped slaves are commonplace around here. Weren't you two about to be enslaved, anyway?"