The cold stone walls of my cell feel like they're closing in around me. I try to regulate my breathing, clinging to the flicker of hope that refused to be extinguished despite our catastrophic defeat. Ryder and Gemma are being held in adjacent cells, but the eerie silence is suffocating.
The harsh clanging of the cell door jerks me from my thoughts. Two of Damian's hulking guards stomp inside, their grips vicelike on my arms as they drag me from the cell. "Where are you taking me?" I demand, struggling against their iron holds.
One of the guards sneers. "Lord Damian demands your presence. You'd best cooperate unless you want a taste of what's to come."
My heart drops into my stomach, but I force myself to remain outwardly defiant as they haul me down the dimly lit corridor. As much as I
