“I can't just give up on it, on them. No matter what you say.'

Even if I had been a fool- a stupid, human fool- to believe my father would ever actually come for me.

Tamlin eyed me sidelong. 'You're not giving up on them.'

'Living in luxury, stuffing myself with food? How is that not-'

'They are cared for- they are fed and comfortable.'

Fed and comfortable. If he couldn't lie, if it was true, then.. then it was beyond anything I'd ever dared hope for.

Then... my vow to my mother was fulfilled.

It stunned me enough that I didn't say anything for a moment as we walked.

My life was now owned by the Treaty, but... perhaps I'd been freed in another sort of way.”