an'

a blade. Slicing through reason and control. But we fought against it, resisting the pulll that should have bound us to her. S

g but the disdain she had earned. We were determined to make her suffer for every wrong choice

alone made her reckl

age, her identity.Her loyalty to him ran deeper than any instinct. She'd chosen her side, and it

as the other half of our souls. But not now. Now knowing she was an accomplice to the person who took eve

those vile rumors. Whispers of a girl with her face dancing for human

alked into it, eyes open, leaving a trail

thing more than

tribution, but we would not give her love. She was a means to balance the scales. A tool of reckoning.Maki

the pain he inflicted, he would have burned the Nort

ld damage us just as deeply. But we would make her pay in other ways. We wou

d with disgust and fear. A reaction that made it clear the feel

steam from beneath my skin. I wanted to rip it from her, to remind her she h

arned, my voice sharp. She didn't flinch. Didn't blink. He

way tremmbled slightly with the force of my voice. Still, she didn't

irm and silent. He didn't say a word, just starred at me with that quiet res

. "You'll earn your keep here. If we're providing f

ast me and started down the hall

en she reached the room, she didn't hesitate. She began making the beds-

e way she moved

fort. They were calloused. Practiced. Like someone who'd clea

over his chest. Dax leaned against the doorframe, sayin

a quiet rhythm to her movements, like she'd been trained

ate

nt and filthy. Not composed.

Didn't like the way her scent clung to the sheets. Didn

f she really did what she was accused for

nore

n that direction. She didn't look at me, didn't a

out warning, a mem

ember clutching my other younger sister's hand-Lana-dragging her through the smoke. But

umpled in the ash. Her eyes wide, lips pa

stolen her breath b

days lat

And then I saw Lyra wiping down the table li

e was also composed. Practiced. And that

reaming. She

as wa

ant she h

rs, stitched together with silence and survival. And no matter how fier

lrevok's a

he wore the f

never wear