“Men would pay a small fortune to take the maidenhood of winter in its human form,” Millicent said, voice cool and emotionless. She continued speaking to no one in particular, marveling over every inch of the stripped girl.

Amaris could almost hear the tinkling sounds of crowns rubbing together as they tumbled into the purses of the women before her.

“Mmm,” Millicent continued, turning Amaris around with the evaluating eye of a rancher eyeing its livestock. She brought her hand to Amaris’s mouth. “Let me see your teeth.”

“Like I said,” Agnes reiterated, stopping the process, “she hasn’t bled. She is too young to leave our guardianship now. But if you put down a deposit, I’d be willing to hold her for you and send word to the Selkie once she reaches her womanhood.”

Amaris took the opportunity to redress.

The women ignored Amaris as they began discussing business.

She’d refused to cry, but silver tears continued rimming her eyes. She knew if Nox met her gaze, she’d lose her resolve, though out of the corner of her eyes she spied the tight fists of Nox’s anger. As if Agnes could sense the impending exchange between the two, the matron reached around and placed her hand in front of Nox’s path once more. She treated Nox like an antagonized bull pinned behind a gate.

Millicent clucked her tongue. “Many of my clients would be thrilled that she hasn’t bled. There is quite the market for—”

Amaris found her voice. She choked on a single, infuriated word. “No.”

The women in the room turned to her, giving her their attention. Millicent tilted her head curiously.

Amaris swallowed, feeling as though dry bread were caught in her throat. She could scarcely breathe through the obstructing emotion that threatened her. Still refusing to cry, she leveled her voice. She summoned a resolve beyond her years as she said, “Matron Agnes has already said she will send word when I’m ready. Today, I’m not going anywhere.”

A flood of tension filled the room. Like the ocean’s tide, it rushed in and rushed back out, leaving a strangled sense of nothingness behind it. Agnes was rigid, perhaps worried that Amaris’s disregard for authority would ruin her business dealings. The matron failed to stop Nox as the young woman finally bypassed her and went to Amaris’s side. She wanted to feel relief at Nox’s presence, but the pain of her humiliation ran too deep. Nox tied the back of Amaris’s tunic, murmuring a stream of unintelligible somethings that may have been rushed, quiet apologies. Nox’s hands shook as she tied the knots once more.

Millicent seemed to consider the two for a long while before dipping her chin slightly in acknowledgment. “Fine,” she said with cold amusement. “I will respect your spirit, girl.”

It was over.