A deep, throbbing ache spread through Amelia’s body as she lay against the cold stone.
Every breath she took was shallow, her ribs protesting the movement.
The silver’s burn still lingered on her skin, a cruel reminder of her captors’ power. But underneath the pain, anger simmered.
They thought they had broken her.
They were wrong.
She let her eyes slip shut, pretending to be weaker than she was, listening intently to the sounds beyond the heavy door.
Footsteps faded into the distance, followed by muffled voices she couldn’t quite make out.
Then… silence.
A test.
She knew better than to think she was truly alone. They were probably watching her, waiting to see if she would try to fight back.
Fine.
Let them think she was giving up. Let them believe she was too weak to resist.
