Lily curled into herself. Her body shook uncontrollably as tears streamed down her cheeks. With nowhere else to go, Lily found solitude in the dressing room. The elegant gowns and robes surrounded a fortress, shielding her from the outside world.
She hugged her knees close to her chest, burying her face in them as silent sobs made her dry heave.
The marks from Zayn’s whip still burned across her back, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the ache in her heart.
“Lily?” A voice called out.
“Lily, are you in here?”
Lily raised her head slowly, blinking through swollen eyes. She recognized the voices, perhaps the only ones she could truly trust. She heard they push apart dresses and clothes, calling out to her.
Eventually, they found her.
“Oh, Goddess!” Talia gasped, rushing forward when she spotted Lily huddled in the corner. “What happened to you?”
Luna Eliza followed close behind, her face paling as she took in Lily’s state.
