Do not take me for a fool, Attai.

NALEDI’S POV

The gruesome nights continued for two weeks straight.

I had yet to utter a word to Draken. Whenever he came to me every night, asking and flat-out demanding for me to be his bride. Every time I refused to answer, he beat me to a pulp and had me recuperate until the next night, only to begin his round again.

Without a word, I bore the pain, and yet it seemed like it was not punishment enough for what I had done. It was not punishment enough for the betrayal I had caused Caellum.

I couldn’t help the side of me that wanted to find out more about Caellum. I couldn’t help the need I felt anytime I thought of him, only to smoulder myself with the self-judgement I seemed to have every time I thought of him and the Cosa Nostra.