Two days had passed since Serena opened her eyes to the world again. Two days filled with fussing, coddling, and a kind of babying that made her want to scream and laugh at the same time.
Everyone, from the maids, to Marlowe, to Darell had gone out of their way to treat her as though she were made of fragile glass. She had told them, more than once, that she was fine. More than fine, actually. She felt stronger. Sharper. Like a new part of her had woken up along with her body.
Still, it didn't matter how many times she insisted. They fluttered around her like overly protective butterflies, making sure she had everything from freshly brewed tea to extra pillows she didn't need. And though a part of her was secretly touched by the attention, another part longed for normalcy. She wasn't a porcelain doll.
