I have spent days adjusting to my new life at Shade Manor. Pyotr has been busy preparing to send the other humans back. So we've seen very little of each other, though he makes the effort to escort me to breakfast every morning.

     I would like to see more of Pyotr, but he is just so busy.

     I jolt when someone taps me on the shoulder. Turning to look behind me, my eyes meet Alexei's. He arches a brow while staring me down and I see his left ear twitch.

     "What has you so lost in thought?" He asks.

    "O-Oh, I was just t-thinking of Lord Pyotr. H...He's been quite busy lately hasn't h-he," I comment.

   Alexei rolls his eyes, moving his hand from my shoulder to fold his arms.

     "You want to know who else is quite busy...me. Now get back to work before I send you out of my ward. You are not much help sitting there spacing out," Alexei barks.

     I flinch at his harsh tone. Adverting my gaze I stare down at the bandages in front of me.

     "Sorry, I...I'll get back to work," I apologize.

     "Good, we do not have time to waste. The master wants you to leave with Alina on the trip to return everyone home," he says.

     I tilt my head in confusion.

     "What is with that look? Did the master not tell you of his intentions?" He asks.

     I shake my head, "Pyotr never t-told me I'd be leaving."

"I thought he had already told you. Anyway, you will be leaving tomorrow with Alina to return everyone home," he tells me.

I don't look at him as he speaks, keeping my eyes on the bandages in front of me. My heart thumps nervously.

"Why do I-I have to go?" I ask.

I turn to look at Alexei and he shrugs his shoulders.

"I honestly could not tell you. He may be trying to give you one last chance to return home," he says.

I sigh, "I...I've already said I won't be r-returning home."

"I think the master just really does not want to see you get hurt. The people we are hunting down are very dangerous," Alexei explains.

     I bite my lip, curling my nails into my palms.

     "I k...know it's dangerous. I just can't sit s-still and watch this any l-longer," I say.

     "That is your call to make. Just be prepared to work hard to earn your keep," he tells me.

     We go back to work, a comfortable silence falling over us. After hours of work, I slump, sprawled out in a chain. My hair frays every which way, the clip that once held it up now barely hanging on. My eyes shoot to the door at the sound of it opening. Alina walks in, her shoes making a clicking noise as she walks.

     "Miss Clara, I was looking for you. I was hoping we could talk," she says.

     I straighten my posture looking into her milky eyes. The pale white stares back at me unblinking, and I nod. She steps farther into the room, taking a seat next to me.

     "We will be leaving tomorrow, to return the other humans home. The master has asked that I take you with me. I would like you to use the time back in your village to tie up any loose ends you may have. It will be a long time before you return again," she tells me.

     I smile bitterly, "while I l-like what you're doing for me. I...I don't think I will be saying goodbye to my family," I inform her.

     Alina scrunches her brows, her long ears folding back. I sigh at her confused reaction. I pull my gaze from hers, rubbing my fingers together, I take a deep breath.

     "I-I'm not very close to my family. It i...is not necessary that I s...say goodbye," I tell her.

"That does not really matter, we are still going to give you the final opportunity to say goodbye. We will be leaving tomorrow so rest well tonight, sleeping in a carriage is quite uncomfortable," she tells me.

I nod, causing some of my curls to fall in my face. I reach up brushing them back.

"Will Lord Pyotr be c-coming with us?" I ask.

Alina shakes her head, closing her milky eyes.

"The master cannot leave the Shadow Moore," she explains.

"Oh... I-I see, why i...is that?" I inquire.

"It is a long story, but to put it simply no blood Fae is allowed to leave the forest. They broke an agreement with the forest Fae and that was the consequence," she says.

"How sad," I mutter, pausing before I continue, "I-I will be sure to rest well, so a...as not to be a b-burden during our t-travels."

"Thank you, Miss Clara, I will see you tomorrow," Alina bows, exiting the room.

I return to my work, my mind swarming with thoughts of home. It's been over a month since I've seen my family.

Did they even realize I went missing?

I shake my head trying to clear those thoughts away. Returning to my work I try to distract myself.