Page 203 of Tears for a Broken Sky
Vael laughed—deep and hollow. “Why?Why?Because this world is a festering boil made of rot. A cage of weakness. Because mortals breed like maggots and call it purpose.”
He stepped closer, red eyes gleaming. “I wasmadein that rot. Iclawedmy way out. The only way to change anything is to rise above it. Power, Elira. Power is the only truth.”
“And then what?” I screamed. “You tear it all down and stand on the ashes?What do you even want?”
Vael smiled like a god seeing a mortal finally blink.
“You,” he said softly. “I wantyou.”
He stepped to me slowly, dragging Maddie behind him like a pet on a leash.
“I saw your magic that first day in Shadowmere. It fluttered around you like the perfect aura. And in that moment I sawthe future as clear as day. You were a beautiful child, this is true. But it was your soul, your spirit I craved. Your father – he couldn’t see it. He wouldn’t let me have you,” He shook his head like my father was unreasonable.
“So you killed him. And took me anyway.”
Vael nodded like my words congratulated him on a job well done.
“That wasn’t always the plan. Even Ashton disagreed, but it worked in my favour. I had you for ten years. Ten perfect years.”
Thorne moved down the stairs until he reached my side. As soon as he got to me, he took my arm gently. Too gentle.
Like he already knew the fight had left me.
“Be still, little shadow,” he whispered. “Please.”
I’ve got you.
The words echoed in my head. Familiar. Too familiar.
Had he said them aloud? Or had I imagined it—rememberedit?
My eyes flicked to his.
He was watching me too closely. Like he was memorising me. Like he was trying to say something without words.
Little shadow…
His eyes were green, just for a moment. No. They couldn’t be.
I felt it then—a brush of something in my mind.
A flicker of power.
Thorne?
Outside, the walls trembled again—another blast. Ashton’s siege was still raging.
But Vael barely glanced at the sound.
He sighed. Shook his head like a weary teacher humouring a child.
“I suppose we should deal with that,” he said.
Then he turned to his soldiers and gestured lazily.
“Go on, then. Kill them all. I don’t want them interfering with what comes next.”
Vael’s gaze slid back to me, his grip tightening on Maddie like she was nothing but leverage. He smiled.
