[Bonus chapter] In the Dark

~ ZARA ~

Did I? Yeesh. This dress was beautiful, but speaking of cages. My hips and stomach ached because the corseting had been pressing into me as I slept on the couch. I desperately wanted to be able to draw a deep breath again.

But one look at Abigail whose eyes were shadowed and who was snoring gently and I was wavering.

"If you can handle my buttons, I can do the rest," I whispered.

Ash's face didn't change, but he stepped back from the couch without meeting my eyes, offering a hand to help me get to my feet, which I didn't think I'd need, but my stiff body and the restrictive bodice of the dress made it a necessity if I didn't want to just drop back onto the couch.

When I was on my feet, we were plastered together because the table was behind him. His breath was shallow and he stared down at me.

"Ash—"

"It's fine," he whispered, opening an arm to let me walk out first. "You need your rest, and so does she."