Page 199 of Bound By Crimson
She wasn’t crying.
Not anymore.
What came now wasn’t pain or panic.
It was worse.
Stillness.
The kind of stillness that only settles when something inside you dies.
She didn’t know how long she sat there.
Eventually, the door opened.
Tessa entered quietly, eyes down. She carried a fresh towel, a tray of food, and a tremble in her hands.
She didn’t speak.
Neither did Lyric.
Tessa placed the tray down and turned to leave.
Just before she reached the door, Lyric said, “You knew.”
Tessa froze.
“You knew before I said it.”
A shaky breath. “I can’t talk to you about that. You don’t understand what any of this means.”
She trailed off.
Lyric sat up straighter, her voice barely audible.
“Please, Tessa. Please help me.”
Tessa turned.
“You know what they’re doing to me. You do. I know you do.” Lyric said, her voice raw.
“You seem like a good person… but if you walk away now, then you’re just like them. Please Tessa! I need your help!”
Tessa’s throat worked. Her lip quivered. She opened her mouth then closed it.
“Mrs. Thornwick helped me when I had no one,” she said softly. “I owe her everything. And you—you act like this is some kind of punishment. Like you weren’t chosen.”
Lyric’s breath caught.
“You don’t know how lucky you are.” Tessa continued. “Being a Thornwick… that’s not a curse. It’s a place. A purpose. A legacy. Some of us would give anything for that.”
Lyric stared at her, stunned. Realizing how deep the Thornwick manipulation ran.
“You’re lucky you got to be with him… I would do anything for him. But it doesn’t matter. I’m not a full Thornwick. My mother was weak. She got pregnant from someone outside the bloodline—someone unclean. I’m only half. Not worthy to carry the legacy.”
Lyric’s blood ran cold.
She wasn’t just alone. She was outnumbered and powerless.
