Gaia didn’t bother hiding the smirk on her crimson-painted lips.
"Unchain her," Gaia snapped, her voice dipped in venom-laced mockery. "I want her alive for the ceremony."
Alive. Not untouched. Not unharmed. Just alive.
The guards moved without hesitation. The heavy silver collar that had clung to Maya’s neck like a shackle of shame was finally removed.
Maya didn’t move. She stayed crouched on the damp, mold-ridden floor of the dungeon, her spine aching, wrists bruised, knees scraped. Every breath she took felt like it clawed its way through her lungs.
Gaia turned her back on her like she was dismissing a servant. Or worse—a pet.
Maya bit down on the scream in her throat as Gaia’s scent wafted past her.
The door slammed shut.
And then silence.
Real, choking silence.
The only so
