Chapter 29: The Journey to Duskmoor
Third Person POV.
The night had left Meredith hollow. She had tossed in bed like a storm-blown leaf, haunted by Draven’s words that burrowed deep and gnawed at her resolve. Though her rage hadn’t vanished entirely, it had cooled into a low, seething simmer, coated in exhaustion.
When Madame Beatrice woke her at five sharp, Meredith blinked against the darkness. No apology. No warmth. Just business.
"Time to prepare," the older woman had said, turning away before she could grunt a response.
And while she didn’t care much for the woman’s tone, Meredith hadn’t missed the one piece of unexpected news: Madame Beatrice wouldn’t be accompanying them to Duskmoor.
She didn’t celebrate, but in the end, she thought it was one less set of judging eyes around her and felt a bit of relief.
More surprising, however, was Madame Beatrice’s decision to appoint Azul as the head of Meredith’s maidservants. Considering how quickly the woman had rejected the idea before, the change of heart was odd and unexpected.
Still, Meredith didn’t question it. Maybe the Moon Goddess was trying to throw her a bone after last night’s disaster.
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The sky outside was still cloaked in pre-dawn gray when Meredith stepped out with Azul and the four maidservants.
The air smelled of morning dew and something colder, heavier—like fate about to shift.