Andre wavered. I could see it in his eyes. He had acted out of rage. Violence came easy to all men. I was easy to pummel. I was weak and I knew that. I had tried to wield a sword until the callouses vanished from the holy water shoved down my throat. My body wasn't meant for wielding a blade, only for accepting it.
"Here," I handed him the chalice, "If my husband asks where I may be, I hope you come up with a suitable answer."
I glanced at the group of men, closing my eyes and smiling even wider. They moved out of my way, awkwardly letting me pass. I felt sick to my stomach. The words that they had said made me feel as though I was putrid. I felt as though I was rotting from the inside out. I knew that Richter had ruined me. I knew that my husbands had given me a bad reputation. I knew that people hated me because I was an Aphelion.
