“teps forward from the shadows, his silver hair gleaming in the torchlight. His cold eyes assess me like I’m a piece of meat.
I stare at him, remembering how his eyes lingered on me during the trial with that calculating gleam.
“Why?” The question tears from my throat. “What do you want witSomething to make you more... compliant.” Harper’s smile widens. “Don’t worry, it won’t kill you. We need you alive for what comes next.”
The guard uncorks the vial and moves toward me. I throw my weight backward, trying to break Harper’s hold, but she doesn’t budge.
“Hold still,” she purrs. “This will all be over soon.”
“No!” I twist desperately, managing to pull partially free. “Kael will come for me. He’ll—”
“Kael thinks you’re safely tucked away with your little healer friends.” Harper’s laugh
