"You regret your decision, Phèdre?" Even as I glare at her, with all of the anger I can muster- which is not nearly as much as I would like- Melisande smiles at me. Elua, how I wish that I could tell her, 'Yes!' To knock her off balance for even a moment is the only victory I could ever have with her, and even that much, I am denied. "Answer me," she says sharply, her fingers reaching out to grasp my jaw in a vice grip.

"Yes," I breathed, my eyes stinging with tears at the corners as I try to wrench away from her. "And no..." If I'd expected a rare moment of compassion from her, I would have been greatly disappointed as Melisande tipped her head back slightly and laughed.

"You fight so hard, my little anguissette, and still you cannot hate me?" The smile that turns up her lips reaches her eyes, the sapphire orbs dancing with amusement as she looks at me. For a brief and blissful moment, her hand releases my jaw and I dare to hope she'll step away from me. Instead, her fingers find their way into my hair, left to drape around my shoulders as it always did when confined to my rooms beneath the Little Court. Her grasp is far too gentle as she closes her hand around my dark locks, pulling my head back slightly as she leaned in over me.

"Hate me, Phèdre." Her eyes still shine with laughter despite the note of seriousness to her voice as she offers me this challenge. "iHate me/i, and I'll set you free."

Kushiel, please help me, but I don't think I can...