nna

tsteps echoed behind me as I crossed the cold

grating. "Always the coward. Just like your mother, who

top

he air between us. Insult me. Beat me. Starve me. I could endure it. But my mother, El

swaggered closer, a smug smile on her face. "

e, unadulterated instinct. My a

nnecting with her cheek

L

ts who had been scurrying in the shadows froze in plac

ndprint was already blooming on her pale skin. Her eyes were wide

ng with a rage so profound it was almost

You hit me!" she shrieked, her voice cracking. "You filthy wolfl

f at me, nails outs

her lunge with ease. She stumbled past me, losing her balance an

help her sister up. But her eyes, filled with a new, c

d, her cheek blazing red. "Next time you speak of my mother," I said, my voice

or the first time in her privileged life, someone had met

d continued down the corridor, my back straight

it open. A wave of stale, musty air hit me

e smashed and strewn across the floor. The small wood

huddled in the

" I br

ollen. When she saw me, her eyes widened, and she scrambl

ou're back!" she cried, c

haking shoulders. "Faye, what hap

dy Cecilia... she sent men. They did this. They said Rowan was negligent... b

ulian?" I asked

small adjoining room. "In his bed. He's so

ace was flushed a dangerous red, and his breaths came in shallow, rattling gasps. I placed a hand on his forehead. He wa

"Rowan," I said, my voice barely a w

choked out. "They beat her so badly. Then t

ut of the room, across the small, untended courtyard, towards the dilapi

ing all my weight and fury behind the blow. The rottin

nside stopp

torn and soaked in blood. Her face was a swollen, unrecognizable mask of bruises.

for a pulse at her neck. It was there, but

g the damage. Multiple fractures. Probable inte

hey had beaten a loyal, kind girl to the brink

nothing compared to this. This was

body into my arms. She weighed almost nothi

nding in the doorway, her hands pressed to her mouth in horror. "Boil water. Find

saw the iron resolve in my face. She nodded, her bo

on the floor since my bed was destroyed. I looked from her

. My resp

them would pay. Not with a

h b