Aliyana’s POVThe vow still echoed in my chest the next morning. They will not break me.But vows were easier made in the dark. Harder to keep when daylight came with whispers and sharp stares that sliced like blades.Maren helped lace my gown, her fingers careful, her silence comforting. I could feel her eyes on me, curious, maybe even concerned, but she didn’t speak. I was grateful. Words were fragile things. Too many of them, and I might shatter.When she finally left, I stood before the mirror, staring at a stranger. My reflection wore silk the color of ashes, her hair braided back tight. But her eyes—my eyes—looked bruised with sleepless nights. I barely recognized myself.“Luke,” I whispered, and the name hurt like fresh glass in my throat. His smile haunted me, his voice, his promise that nothing could take me from him.But something had.And now I was trapped here, in a fortress that swallowed hope whole.The knock came just before midday. Sharp, demanding.When the doors open
Last Updated : 2025-09-03 Read more