Page 134 of Tears for a Broken Sky
“You smell divine,” Vael murmured. His voice was soft, reverent. Like prayer twisted into something vile.
I stared past him. At the wall. At Thorne.
He didn’t move. Didn’t blink.
He justwatched.
I wanted to scream his name. Beg him to stop this. To remember who he was. Who I was.
But my voice was gone. Buried under the weight of fear and betrayal.
Vael’s hand reached my collarbone.
Something snapped inside me.
My fist swung out and punched him hard in the jaw, sending him back to the floor. Blood dribbled from his nose.
I recoiled, breathing hard, but it’s like there was no air. Vael stood slowly, staring at the blood on his hand.
He swung out his fist and caught me hard on the side of my cheek. White stars burst behind my eyes.
The headboard cracked against my skull and for a moment, everything blurred—smeared into black and red.
I tasted blood.
But I was still awake.
Stillme.
“Still defiant,” Vael murmured, almost wistful. “It’s admirable, in its way.”
He leaned closer. Too close.
“We shared such intimate moments once, didn’t we?” His voice dropped.
“And we will again.”
He turned toward Thorne, gesturing with an idle flick of his fingers. “Watch her - my beloved. Make sure she is… well cared for.”
“Yes, sir,” Thorne said flatly.
Vael leaned forward and stroked my face again. I cringed away. He grabbed my hair and yanked it hard, forcing me close. He kissed me, brutally, his lips hard and poisonous.
I bit his lip hard and he chuckled.
Vael’s lips tore away, blood streaking his mouth where I’d bitten down. He licked it with something between amusement and reverence.
“My promised still has teeth,” he murmured, darkly delighted.
I spat blood in his face.
The smile only widened.
“You’ll be ready for me soon,” he said. “One way or another.”
He stood and turned toward Thorne again. “Do not let her hurt herself. She’s no use to me broken.”
“Yes, sir,” Thorne said again, monotone.
