Page 125 of Bound to the Dreadlord

I strain to breathe.

"You’re certain?" Maelrik’s voice carries something like amusement.

"It has to be her."

Veylan’s voice is void of emotion.

"Her blood will seal Hazeran away. She… she was always meant for this."

The world starts again. But it is different now. Ugly. Twisted.

My pulse roars in my ears.

I want to be wrong.

But I am not.

Veylan planned this.

From the beginning.

I move before I can think.

The chamber doors slam open, and they all turn to me.

Their faces are unreadable. Except for Veylan’s.

His is unmoving. Expecting this.

"You knew."

The words shake as they leave my lips. I hate that they shake.

He does not flinch.

"You planned to use me."

Still, nothing.

My stomach ties itself into knots. I take a step forward, because I need him to say it. I need him to deny it. To tell me I am wrong.

But he does not.

"Say something," I demand, voice breaking.

He does not say the words I want to hear or anything at all.

That is worse than anything.

I lunge.

I barely hear the gasp of his brothers as I strike.

He does not stop me.

I hit him. Again. Again.

Fists colliding with his ribs, his jaw. But he lets me.

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