a P

lived and the dampness clung to the walls like a second skin. I didn't argue. I didn't scr

pping, though her eyes darted around suspiciously. Aden, however, looked absolutely furious. His jaw clenched so hard I thought his teeth

izing leg across the uneven cobblestones of the sprawling courtyard. Each step was a grue

or me with his own hands during a time when I still foolishly believed in this family's love. I paused for a single, fleeting heartbeat, letting the memory surface,

bitterly cold, perpetually damp, and entirely isolated from the luxurious warmth

, hard cot and a rickety wooden table that wobbled on uneven legs. The single, narrow window looked directly ou

y, her voice thick with uninvited pity. "I'll fetch a basin

s the heavy wooden door clicked closed, the carefully constructed mask

y raw, blinding pain. With trembling fingers, I slowly pushed up the hem of my torn, blood-stained trousers. My ankle was a horrific sight-sw

bout injuries to understand the grim reality: if I didn't treat this severe tra

hecary in the adjacent corridor. It wasn't far, perhaps onl

oward the edge of the main building. I was only halfway across the connecting courtyard, gasping for breath, when Aden suddenly materia

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

ompletely ignored his taunt, keeping my eyes fixed forwar

rutal force, his strong fingers digging painfully into my bruising flesh. "Did you hear me when I spoke to you?" he roared, shaking me slight

ly low, vibrating with a lethal, icy calm

apologize for disrespecting my Mother!" he spat, hi

cold air. I tilted my head, meeting his furious gaze with dead, unblinking eyes. "

His eyes went completely wild, the pupils dilating as all rational th

ion, he shoved me. Hard. With bot

ely no way to catch or stop myself. A small, involuntary gasp of shock es

eath me, taking the absolute brunt of the devastating impact. The world instantly exploded in a blinding supernova of agonizing whit

standing frozen, staring down at my crumpled form. The arrogant rage in his eyes had entirely vanishe

Gods, what a

didn't even have to turn my heavy head to look. I k

few feet away near the archway, her manicured hands pressed tightly to

ling smile inevitably touched my bleeding lips. Another perfect spectator had arrived for our little play. They t