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Chapter 22: Caged, Not Broken

Author: Brighter
last update publish date: 2026-05-23 14:24:28

The room was too quiet.

Not peaceful.

Not calm.

Controlled.

Lyra sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers lightly gripping the fabric beneath her as she took in her surroundings for what felt like the hundredth time.

Stone walls.

One narrow window.

A single door.

Guarded.

Always guarded.

Kael hadn’t chained her.

Hadn’t locked her in restraints.

But the message was clear.

She wasn’t free.

And he knew she didn’t need chains to understand that.

Her jaw tightened slightly.

He still thinks he can con
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