She knew he would come, but she'd hoped for more time.
The whisper of an idea had been flitting about in the back of her mind, but she needed time. Time to flesh out the details and time to gather courage. But looking at Anguisette… that was where her moment of bravery would come from.
The girl is infinitely more precious to her than she would have believed. Minette had never thought she might love the child of such a violent encounter, but she did. And she felt that she would suffer a thousand more of such punishments to keep Anguisette from ever knowing the domination and fear that Min does.
He does not seem pleased at the birth of a girl. Min halfheartedly tosses her head to send him away, but she knows he will not go. He bares his teeth and glares, and the pale mare dips her head in obedience.
"Our daughter." Minette offers quietly, feeling the need to remind Gryffen that his claim is not the only one. She watches her daughter nurse, wincing a bit as the filly tugs eagerly. Minette is grateful she is eating well. "She will lighten. All children of my family start life as dark as night and then change as they grow older."
Exhaustion turns Minette's voice shaky, but she does not feel the full effects just yet. Her wariness of her stallion keeps her on edge.
"Anguisette."
She responds to her name, the child. Brown eyes light up eagerly, before she becomes distracted and noses amongst the raven's leavings. Minette watches warily as she picks up a feather and stumbles into Gryffen. The pale mare steps forward, close enough to interfere if the stallion reacts in a way that does not suit the mother. Instinct to protect and a fierce love for her baby are what give Minette her courage.
She knows that this will not last.
She wishes she could snap a hateful 'now what?' at him, and she is surprised at herself. Perhaps her ordeal has shaved off some of the veneer of politeness. Minette shakes her head, and ventures a question.
"She won't, you won't be taking her to the Chamber yet?"
It is a question that she wants the answer to, and yet dreads. The baby is too young yet, although Minette knows that someday Gryffen will want to mold their daughter into something of his choosing. The pale gray mare will do everything in her power to thwart him. Her daughter deserves something better, and Min would sacrifice anything for that chance.