Right before dusk, Sayori entered via the servant's side entrance.
Like a secret, her new name stayed between her lips. The manner in which Lord Fenris had said it—low and sure—still resonated in her bones. However, in the quiet, vigilant hum of the servants' hall outside his chamber, it was meaningless.
She was still the person to them.
Only the individual.
And now... the Alpha is a person.
Upon entering, Thalen was leaning against the lengthy stone sink. With one hand in his belt and the other holding a dish cloth loosely, he walked slowly. The torchlight resembled moon fragments in his silver hair. He knew, but he didn't glance at her. He always knew, somehow.
"You're late," a voice grumbled from a bench.
It was ignored by Sayori.
Another voice said, "You're walking strange. Is your master not gentle with his new things?"
Some of the servants chuckled—a hard-edged giggle that didn't reach their eyes. The banshee girl with braids hissed something too softly to hear, and the air around her seemed to throb with chill.
Sayori lowered her eyes to the floor and headed towards the cleaning bucket. Yesterday, her hands were still sore. Her back ached. She remained silent.
However, she kept an eye on things.
The manner in which the elf with the golden sleeves whispered to the fire, which responded by bursting into flames. The troll girl who cleaned the floor without laying a hand on it. The twins with frost-blue skin who manually folded laundry without ever growing weary. Not even the quiet vampire child—he didn't sweat, didn't breathe, and walked like water on glass.
Everyone possessed something. A little bit of an advantage.
Her skin was excessively fragile.
Sayori dipped her rag into the warm water and began cleaning the baseboards. There are no enchantments. No assistance.
Just her hands.
Just her name.
Sayori.
"You're not scared of him, are you?" Thalen's voice broke the quiet behind her.
She glanced upward.
Right now, he was watching her, his eyes filled with curiosity and his lips pursed into a smile that was not quite warm.
Sayori paused. "Should I be?"
"Most are," he stated. "He is the Alpha of the North. He was the accursed one. He made a blood agreement with the Winter Court in order to protect his domain.
She remained silent.
Thalen approached closer. "But he gave you a name."
"He wanted someone who listens," Sayori said, blinking slowly.
Thalen's smile grew more pronounced. "Careful. You nearly sounded proud."
"I didn't intend for it to happen."
"Good. Pride is harmful for someone like you."
Even though her fingers were a little shaky, Sayori went back to scrubbing.
"They're going to test you now," he said quietly as he knelt next to her. The servants, not him. The rest. They dislike disturbance. What about you? You're a nuisance.
She didn't need him to tell her that.
However, he then spoke in a way that surprised her.
"I wouldn't let them break you," he whispered. "You're more interesting when you're quiet and alive."
She gave him a glance, unsure of whether to express gratitude or flee.
However, with his typical unbelievable grace, he had already vanished via the side entrance.
And Sayori was left kneeling, scrubbing, with a name on her lips that still didn't feel like hers and eyes searing into her back.
Not as of yet.