ie

to slow down, the sound fading to a dull buzz.

me. He just gave a curt

he grabbed my chin, his grip like a vise. I tried to pull

twi

behind my eyes. I felt my jawbone shift, dislocate. A scream tore at my throat but was trapped, unable to e

till wrapped around Kiley, leading her out of the room as i

robbing agony. I couldn't speak. I couldn't eat. I could only sip water t

s forced to sit in the living room while they watched movies, her head on his lap. I was

o the humiliation. I was a ghost at thei

thday, and Elijah had plans. He had a doctor come to the house to reset my jaw. The proce

his voice cold and clipped. "It will be perfect. If she is anything

nd florists, my movements robotic. The garden was transformed into a fairy-tale

iley a diamond bracelet that cost more than my childhood home. He held her as they cut a t

ed to break anymore. I watched them, and I remembered my own twenty-first birthday. Elijah and Corine had thrown

to the darkness. What

ing th

s smile playing on her lips. "I don't see a gift," she said, her eyes sca

ze. "I didn't p

It was a simple locket, the last thing my mother gave me before she died. "I like that

otectively. "No," I said, my voice shaking. I to

and her eyes instantly filled with tears.

as by her side in an instant, his brow furrowe

m. "I just told Jamie I liked her necklace, and

to me, and it was gla

know what this is. It was my mother's." He had been with me when she

between us. Please, not this.

ight. "Get it for her," h

n grabbed my arms, their grips like iron. One of them reached f

ain sn

n't look at it. He simply turned and, with a

rehead. He took her hand and led her back to the center

last piece of

n the darkest corner of the garden. A group of K

little wretch," o

e with Kiley? You're

then to kicks. I curled into a ball on the ground,

nd I gasped, a hot, metallic taste filling my mouth. I coughe

ped back, their drunken cr

ell is goin

stood at the edge of the circle o