By the second day, she still hadn’t eaten.
Kael made sure of it. He sat close every time they ate, chewing slowly, letting the scent of roasted meat fill the air. She kept her head high, refusing even when her stomach growled loud enough that Elias winced.
"You’re gonna starve her," Carla said flatly, arms crossed, glaring at Kael.
"Good," he answered without hesitation.
Crimora’s eyes narrowed. "This isn’t strategy. It’s cruelty."
Kael’s grin stayed easy. "Strategy, cruelty—same thing when it works."
The wolf bared her teeth, lips curling. "I’d rather die."
Kael leaned closer, so close his breath brushed her ear. "Then die chained. Your choice."
She trembled, snarled, spat in his face. He didn’t even wipe it away, just grinned wider.
Elias muttered to himself as he scrubbed dried
