Maelis

I walked into Father's office, holding the heavy oak door and closing it softly behind me.

Father was standing close to the floor-to-ceiling window, his back turned to me. He was watching the snow fall over the estate grounds. The moment the door clicked shut, he slowly turned. His steely gray eyes dissected me instantly, looking for cracks in the armor he had built.

“Maelis,” he called.

A shiver ran down my spine, though I remained calm on the surface.

“Father,” I called back, not breaking eye contact. “You called for me.”

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he just threw me a look that made me feel five...