a P

ed and dampness clung to the walls. I didn't argue. I didn't screa

dropping, though her eyes darted around. Aden, however, looked furious. His jaw clenched tightly; hi

gging my agonizing leg across the cobblestones. Each step

er," Gideon, had built it for me when I still believed in this family's love. I paused for a he

amp, and isolated from the warmth of the main hous

cot and a wobbling wooden table. The narrow window looked directly out on

oorway, her voice thick with pity. "I'll fetch a

soon as the door clicked closed, my mask of indiffe

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

w enough about injuries to understand the reality: if I didn't treat

e adjacent corridor. It wasn't far, perhaps a few d

ack toward the main building. I was only halfway across the courtyard, gasping for breath,

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

reaction. I ignored his taunt, keeping my

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

ice low, vibrating with a cal

apologize for disrespecting my Mother!"

air. I tilted my head, meeting his gaze. "Make me kneel? You?

is restraint. His eyes went wild, r

on, he shoved me. Hard. B

catch myself. A gasp escaped my lips

th me, taking the brunt of the impact. The world exploded in a supernova

, I saw Aden standing frozen, staring down at me. The rage in his ey

Gods, what a

ones. I didn't even have to turn my

Elna, stood only a few feet away, her hands pressed

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