I hadn’t slept a wink all night, Daemon’s words ringing in my head like a relentless, mocking echo. Mere slave. That’s all I was to him. Yet he would keep me here, forced to be near him, just to flaunt his control.
The words felt like a slap, hollowing out any sense of pride I had left. Every look, every touch, every glance from him—was it all some twisted show of control? I had let Calix sleep beside him last night, somehow hoping it would bring my son some happiness. But all it did was tighten Daemon’s hold on us both.
As soon as morning came, I quietly slipped out of bed, lifting Calix into my arms. I had to get us out of this place, away from the suffocating grip Daemon held over us. But just as I reached the door of the study with my son still clinging into me half-awake, I suddenl
