a, f

broken, the words laced with agony that s

e!" Lena's voice trembled, her hands shaking violently

. "Promise me... promise me you'll survive. No matter what happens, you

ck, the impact shuddering through the ground. The fire, ravenous and unrelenting, roared arou

ing scream, her voice torn by the agony of watchin

hrough the smoke, sharp an

locked onto the figure stepping from the flames. A gold mask covered half h

night, sending a chill down Lena's spine, a

of the carriage wheels on uneven ground and the dul

we reach the pack house?" One of the men ou

the other muttered, his tone

pt stop, throwing Lena off bal

steady and deliber

herself, just as the carriage door

barked, sharp

hauling her from the carriage

" one man sneered, a bitter

of women, their eyes har

e hatred," one spat, "Look at her,

voice cold and distant, as if Lena wer

. No pity.

her through the vast hall. The sound of her feet dragging across the cold stone floor

week," a whisper f

somewhere behind her. "Al

ad, their cold, imposing presence l

woman's voice com

rust her forward. Her knees hit the cold marble with a harsh crack, pai

a heavy silence, th

on a throne of obsidian

ess seemed to cling to him, his eyes unread

on was su

stillness, low, commanding, and

your

nce had no place here. Sl

ld around h

eeped into

ery ember, pierced her. The mask... that mask

k covered ha

who had burne

who had kill

had led her

one, his steps measured, predatory. He

u're my

r throat. Her eyes snapped

ral laugh ec

s unaware," he sneered

fingers grasping the edge of her hood. He t

hatred erupt

or's s

thy ha

e we

tle mind. His gaze r

anded, his voice cold and final. "

guards grabbed her once more. Her mind screamed in

es followed her as she was

serves

er feel

nto the castle. At last, they halted before a set of imposing, orn

ong shadows upon the stone. At the room's heart stood a large bed, draped i

ach twisted

s his c

shut behind her,

ar a basin of water, their

rd, her tone unyi

dded loudly in h

into fists. "I

woman who had spoken earlier now gl

ling hands, Lena unclasped her cloak, allowing it to fall to the s

the basin and began to cleanse her once

her shoulders. The rich crimson fabric flowed like b

ding

caught in

king the shackles that bound her. Now, she wa

roaned open

ure e

ri

nyielding, filling the roo

ed. He said nothing, simply obse

nd commanding, sliced

ne

es, the cold stone floor biting into her

, his voice like a sharpene

ed, caught in her throat. She

th

from her lips, strangling it before it could be uttered. A c

d, the motion deliber

hrough the suffocating grip of her what

, excruciating agony seized her chest, and blood surged up her throat, spillin

a Lydia's voice echoed in her mind: "A witch

d raced, scrambling throug

, it cam

dr

gent liquid forc

you will n

to an eerie, opp

ut a word, he wiped the blood from his cheek, his movements measured and d

al grounds." His voic

e room, his dark robe trail