Thor

as a conscious effort, a battle against the ringing in my ears and the hollow void that had opened up in m

rom the main suites. It was small, ov

oorknob when a voice, sharp and laced

ook what the c

he was a vision of perfection in a shimmering silver dress that clung to her athletic frame. Her blonde hair

ng and vibrant, pressed in on me, a constant reminder of everything I wasn't. "I thought, who coul

ruel smile spread across her perfect lips. "Oh, dear. It seems Father fi

ooking flustered. "Seraphina, leave he

ust getting started." She circled me like a predator, her gaze analytical and cold. "You really

voice flat and lifeless. The fire from earlie

annoyance. She hated when I didn't react, when her

eraphina." I turne

against the door, blocking my way. She leaned in close, her sc

sper. "You are nothing. A wolfless runt. The only reason Father has tolerate

as left of me. For eighteen years, I had endured this. The whispers, th

ugh!" Aunt Clara's voi

The final thread of

hat startled even me. It wasn't a laugh of amusement. It w

ime, I didn't see a sister. I saw a stranger. A beautiful

ging in my ears had stopped. Everything was crystal c

xpected force of it made her stumble ba

sweeping over her, and then to our

m no longer your sister," I said, the wo

, her mouth slightly a

d just appeared, drawn by the commotion. His face was a mask of cold fury. M

's icy glare wi

inality that was absolute. I looked at Marley, at the woman who had orche

shing over me, trying to force me to my knees. But it had no effect

years of pain. "I am done being your shame, your disappointment, your sacri

, my hand finding

existence," I said, my eyes locking onto my f

nt Clara whispered, h

phina shrieked, her perfect

wed to the space between me and th

ha Thorne," I said, the t

pened my door, an

LA

me as I threw the bolt. The sound was d

screams, my father's furious roars. They could sho

erected between my past and my future. The strength that had carried m

gs ga

the door until I was huddl

artbroken daughter. They were the tears of a prisoner who had just been handed

ent, suffocating way I had learned as a c

e end of El

ng of something