Traumatized

The words struck like a whip, slicing through Ren's defenses. Her breath hitched, her pulse hammering against her ribs. How did she know? Had Kaisun spoken of it? Or worse, had he found solace in this woman's arms? The thought was venom, curling through her mind like poison, unraveling the fragile unintentional trust she had placed in him. She barely knew him. Every piece of him remained locked away in a chest to which she had no key, and yet she had thrown herself into this marriage blindly.

"Who said I won't?" Ren countered, her voice edged with defiance. "I am his to take, little puppy."

She hadn't meant to play this game, hadn't wanted to engage in this wretched tug-of-war, but Elaika had crossed a line.

The woman's smirk only widened, unbothered. "He has to marry me if he doesn't want to lose his power, silly human. The clans agreed to assist him in the war only if he weds me, beds me, and makes babies with me."