Kira’s POV
The guards dragged me into the courtyard, forming a loose circle around me like vultures waiting for a carcass. And so, my punishment began.
The first few laps were manageable. I was barefoot against the gravel beneath my feet, my breath steady, and my anger fueling every stride. I kept my chin high and my fists clenched. If Darius thought this would break me, he was wrong. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
But as time passed, the burn began. The scorching afternoon sun did little to help me—instead, it made everything worse.
My calves screamed first. Then my thighs. Each step turned heavier than the last, like I was dragging chains behind me. My chest heaved, and sweat trickled down my back, but I continued to run.
I ran like my life depended on it, swallowing the cry
