a P

the dampness clung to the walls like a second skin. I didn't argue. I did

though her eyes darted around. Aden, however, looked furious. His jaw clenched so hard I thought his teeth might

ing leg across the cobblestones of the courtyard. Each step was a battle

uilt it for me with his own hands during a time when I still believed in this family's love. I paused for a heartbeat, letting the

rations: cold, damp, and isolated from the warmth and light of th

cot and a wooden table that wobbled on uneven legs. The narrow window looked directly ou

ay, her voice thick with pity. "I'll fetch a basin of

n as the wooden door clicked closed, the mask of indif

raw pain. With trembling fingers, I pushed up the hem of my blood-stained trousers. My ankle was a horrific sight-

nough about injuries to understand the reality: if I didn't treat this t

adjacent corridor. It wasn't far, perhaps only a fe

ward the edge of the main building. I was only halfway across the connecting courtyard, gasping for breath,

epping into my space. "Shouldn't you be locked up in your

ction. I ignored his taunt, keeping my eyes fix

force, his fingers digging into my flesh. "Did you hear me when I spoke to you?" he roared, shaking me slightly.

ice low, vibrating with a cal

ologize for disrespecting my Mother!" he spa

tilted my head, meeting his gaze with unblinking eyes. "Make me knee

. His eyes went wild, the pupils dilating as ra

, he shoved me. Hard. With

way to catch myself. A gasp of shock escaped my lips

eath me, taking the brunt of the impact. The world exploded in a supernova of pain that

hum, I saw Aden standing frozen, staring down at my form. The rage in his eyes

Gods, what a

s. I didn't even have to turn my head

stood only a few feet away near the archway, her hands pre

touched my lips. Another spectator had arrived for our little play. They thought they were bre