STEPUNCLES ALPHA'S PUNISHES ME EVERYNIGHT

mn's

ment I woke up. Som

y gave orders, their watchful eyes never l

eren't

e I rem

harsh hand struck me for speaking out of turn. No one dra

words held no malice. Their eyes lacke

nfuse

l game to lull me into a false sense of s

their distance. They overlooked small mistakes

settl

I reme

d taunting, echoed in my mind. "Crawling like

r voice had laughed. "L

my chin, forcing my head up.

ll hear my own ragged breaths in the cold,

this way? Had I sim

ething dif

was differ

't afford. This place was a cage, its bars made of watch

I mo

e dried rations, a small blade concealed in m

rough them. The air grew colder, carrying the s

close I could a

ul step a

er quarters. The outer

e cut throug

somew

fr

urned slowly, my fingers tight

stood a few

to attack. He was

e was enough to steal

y jaw, refus

outline of the blade pressed against

ined s

didn't sound amused. He soun

ew t

mind racing. If I ran now, could I

opped, serio

asily he read

kened. "You

forced my shoulders back, lifting m

crossed his features. "T

l keep r

d. "You don't un

y arms. "I

ion was clear, but beneath it swirled somethi

le. "Consider this a warnin

r what? You'l

ering. "No." His voice was quieter now, but

ave me

f violence in his ton

d, hard

, but I refused to sho

repeated, the word

vident in the stiff line of his sho

strange sensation

rage. Retribu

ad merely ir

small rebellion fe

ome of this life, they are mistaken. I

ing the mistak

ped into the main

y and intent

to look to k

at

gh to cut. She had seen everything-how Adonis had simply let me

o

Agatha. Her anger was a volatile thing,

s ri

when I heard the rapid, angry cli

and seize

atha hissed, her vo

meeting her glare ca

ant. I saw it all. Why are they sud

, sour and ripe. The burni

erate smile t

seeing the truth of w

sion darkened.

aiming a sharp s

eing her target. Done

ithout a moment's hesitation, bro

sound echoed in

her eyes wide with pur

, my breath even. I had never r

... emp

ifferent slap. A

ke that?" a cold, cruel

my knees, my

her," another had mused, am

d. Repe

ways sta

ot an

a's face now was a balm t

tly melted int

o scream, to summon witnesses

give her

once more, harder, the

to be seen.

body trembling with a volati

ait

r the shout

e, to throw me to the cold stone as

for my pu

heard fo

my head

they

hree

chi

sks, their gazes he

rphing into one of wounded innocence. She exp

they alw

hey d

le as if battling a headache. "

ked. "

his tone leaving n

posed to go," I fired back, the con

arily united with me in her dis

calm. "Little Moon, just do as

? Why were they ac

and tangled my hand in Agatha's hair, giving it a sharp pull.

nuine pain. "Help m

ring. Cry more! Give them a reason. Give t

allenge in my eyes, waiting

g was wrong.

eaction. This was

ce held a scolding tone, and for

, stubbornness hardening my voice. "If you're so angry, the

adn't expected her greatest weapon aga

e firm as he carefully pried Agatha from my g

ore from both Agat

et the outcome was the opposite of what either

out this. We will discuss it later," Adonis said, h

them, utterl

The threats? The im

ut me in my place. I had assaulted Agatha

just wanted me t

st as lost and c

ing wa

undamental

idea what i