**Stephan**Zara’s eyes were bleak, red rims and more hollow than ever as she stood silently. Her skin was raw, angry red welts visible on the exposed parts of her arm where the liquid splashed, the bodice of her dress clinging tightly due to the liquid and her fine brown hair slicked to her neck with sweat. From the first glance, it didn’t look like she listened to their words, heck, it didn’t even seem like she cared as she just watched passively..If I didn’t know better, I could have also been deceived, except she gave herself away in the little details.The stiffness in her jaw, the way her fingers gripped the side of her gown, and a nerve occasionally tickled in her head, the bobbing of her throat as she swallowed, and the near-missable grind of her teeth.I cast a glance at the still murmuring elders, a snarl working its way through my lips, and balled my hands into fists. Before I could properly think about my decision, my coat was off, draped across her shoulders in two lon
Last Updated : 2025-09-04 Read more