rriage came to a halt, everything stilled for a moment-except for my pounding heart. The familiar creak of the wheels ceased, and the next

d have calmed me, but I was too far gone in fear to appreciate it. My body tensed, and confusion flooded me. Why couldn't I still se

he malice dripping from his words sending shivers across my skin. "I bet she'd last a while

hroat, but I forced it back down. No matter what happened, I couldn't let them see

d man sneered, his tone venomous. "

ed heavily on me, thicker than the blackness that still cloaked my vision. I had heard the rumors a

ng for an escape, for salvation. I had foolishly clung to the hope that being sold might offer me some f

seemed to deligh

ll join her soon," came the

h step. My body was limp, my strength drained. The air grew colder, the walls tighter around me, and finally, I was shoved onto a soft mattress. It was a

going to end up like the other girls? The whispered rumors

oom was shattered, and I scrambled to my feet, instinct taking over. My hea

as smooth, but there was something sinister

squeezing my cheeks with enough force to make

ch word lingering in the air, heavy an

. He took my silence as an insult, and I coul

barked, his voic

mered, my voice

own the side of my neck. I shuddered as he touched the

s tone dripping with cruelty. "I a

ndered to him. The room was spinning, my mind foggy with a

the light from the room flooded my vision. My gaze fell on the

Dend

apart. The same despot who had robbed me of my mother's life. The m

over his left eye only added to his menacing presence. Hi

st

ns

vi

t I couldn't move, couldn't act on the rage bubbling

he ordered, his voi

self for it, hated the way I bent to his will. But what

m my face. He stepped away momentarily, returning with

m tightly. He tossed the key onto the bed and l

crouching to my level. "W

uel satisfaction in his eyes was unmistakable as he stood up, yanking me to my fe

a Dendrick sneered, removing his b

d and cruel. The belt cracked against my back with such forc

elp came. No one would save me

kled under the force. My head hit the floor, and the worl

everything went black was hi

Master. You