The room was extremely quiet except for the groan of the chains that held Nia against the cold iron cross. Her head lolled to the side, her face pale under the dim light. A bead of sweat slid down her temple, and the slow, deliberate swing of the sword in front of her chest cast a shadow on the wall. With every creak of the fraying rope holding the blade, it dipped closer to her, its sharp edge gleaming cruelly.
She didn’t wake, but her body twitched with discomfort, her subconscious sensing the danger even in sleep.
“Are you f*****g kidding me, Mum? You can’t do this to her!” Kael snapped, pacing furiously in front of Alia, who stood composed, her arms crossed, and her gaze hard as steel. She studied him, her sharp green eyes glinting like frost.
“She’s human, Kael,” she said flatl
