Ryker’s words sucked all the air out of the world. Nothing. No one spoke. The silence was worse than a scream could ever be.
Nyra just stood there, rooted to the spot in the middle of the ceremonial grounds. Couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t even piece together how everything in her life had shattered in a split second.
Because you’re weak.
That phrase rattled around inside her skull, ugly and poisonous.
All around her, the crowd kept clapping. Some people actually smiled, a few even laughed, and plenty just whispered behind their hands like they’d watched a show, not someone’s life fall apart. Each round of applause hit her like a slap, each stare a verdict. Weak. Every single one of them seemed to share the same opinion.
No one looked surprised or angry. No one pitied her. T
