Melissa’s POV

By the time I stumbled back to my quarters, my body was shaking from both exhaustion and shame, and I had already made up my mind on what I had to do.

Clara sat up the moment I creaked the door open; her eyes were wide with fear. “Melissa!, Where have you been? What happened to you?” Her voice caught when she saw my bare feet, the dirt clinging to my gown, my trembling hands.

I swallowed hard, my throat raw from having drunk too much. “If I say yes… if I agree to this madness of yours, will you help me?”

Her eyes widened, disbelief and excitement...