Page 113 of Tears for a Broken Sky
And it was Maddie who said it—voice sharp and raw, like the words hurt her.
“Why the fuck is Thorne working with Vael?”
Chapter 27
Elira
No.
That was my first thought when I saw Thorne standing there.
It isn’t real. It can’t be real.
From the beach, he seemed to sense us—his head tilted, slow and deliberate. And when his gaze locked onto mine…
I froze.
Because his eyes—
They were black.
Not dark. Not haunted.
Void.
Empty.
As if whatever spark had once lived inside him had been snuffed out completely.
“What the hell has Ashton done to him?” I breathed.
“Ellie - Slade—come on!” Caelen’s voice cut through, urgent. “We need to get to the garrison. We can actually help there.”
But I wasn’t moving.
I was already stepping down the slope. Toward the beach. Toward him.
Like I could reach him.
Like if I got close enough, maybe I’d see the truth.
Pain struck.
Like molten lava poured through my skull.
I hit the ground.
Leo and Phoenix dropped with me—Maddie too, her hand grabbing my arm, frantic.
“Elira! What’s happening?”
Slade fell to one knee beside us, a hiss of breath between clenched teeth.
Blood poured from his nose.
“Fuck—” he gasped, his voice ragged, both hands pressed to his head.
Thorne.
