And yet, I had still cared.
That was my downfall in this world. It was a weakness that continued to be exploited, and Andrew knew that. Sure, he didn’t trulyknowabout the abuse, but he had always been able to pick apart people’s souls and what made them tick.
With me? He’d uncovered the nuances of my empathy, and as soon as he found out Oren had become a valuable asset in his scheme to keep me under wraps, he wasted no time pulling that lever.
The Oren who’d looked at me wasn’t the man I fell in love with. No. It was a dead soul, asphyxiated by the pressure of Andrew’s expectations. And still, even before he’d slipped from my grasp and into the suffocating hold of his father, he’d been like everyone else—never believing in my truth even as I screamed it until my lungs rotted.
Perhaps that was because I was always the problem. Perhaps it was the reason my own mother had turned a blind eye to my cries of desperation—I’d been undeserving of the acknowledgement and the love that wove itself through the nuances of understanding.
Even having experienced the neglect by those who birthed me into the world, I’d still been stupid enough to think the compassion Oren had looked at me with was genuine.
God, I’d been a fool because, when it came to monsters like me, there was no concept of love. Only abuse. Taint. Darkness and blood.
The door opened and slammed shut. A few moments later, I lifted my battered face and watched as General Valens pulled a chair from the opposite side of the room before sitting in front of me. A glass of dark amber liquid swirled as he brought it to his lips, eyes roving over the state I was in.
Oren stood behind him, the stance I’d once been forced into with every meeting now his—a statue in his father’s shadow, void of life. His gaze was trained to the ceiling, but every couple of minutes, he’d glance down at me, something like sorrow swirling in his eyes.
“Commander, what a privilege it is tofinallyhave you back. I can’t thank my son enough for destroying the final string to your heart.”
Silence.
I had nothing more to offer, nothing left to say—not if I desired to execute what needed to be executed.
Dropping my chin with every ounce of emotional and mental exhaustion I felt, my eyes met the ground again. My body ached, sure, but it was a dulled pain compared to everything else.
I swallowed, my throat bobbing as I pushed myself further into the recesses of my mind, into a place I’d never escape from again. They’d won; I’d slipped off the edge of the tower of defiance I’d climbed to, Oren molding me back into the man his father wanted me to be. Continuing to look at Oren was the last thing Thorne Graves could handle—not when he’d once stared into my eyes, into mysoulwith so much hope.
He’d killed me completely; his brutality was far more swift and efficient than his father’s had ever been. The man who’d once cradled him in his arms, determined to create a beautiful world for him, was gone. And now, only an obedient commander remained, whipped so far into submission that the very concept of rebellion became something I’d lost sight of completely.
I’d speak when they demanded, march when they ordered, and execute when they instructed, for I was nothing but a puppet in the hands of its masters.
Or so they’d think.
“Oren.”
He stepped forward, the key to my chains dangling around his neck as he ripped it off in one fluid motion. He inserted it into the locks, and not once did he look at my eyes as he undid the chains holding me. He stepped back and gave a nod to his father. “You’ll report each day to me. You’ve been demoted,recruit, and I suggest remaining in line.”
“Yes, sir,” I responded, the two words coming from me with no emotion, no drive, nocare.
“General Valens has made it clear you’re unfit to lead the squad, so I’ll be taking overyourmen. Like you did with me, one misstep and I’ll use them against you.”
“Understood, sir.”
“Obedience suits you,” Andrew said, finishing the drink in his hands. “You’re dismissed. My son will escort you back to your quarters as a precaution.”
“Yes, General.” Slowly, I pushed myself to stand, my legs shaking beneath me, but I wouldn’t falter—Icouldn’t.Once upright, I saluted them both, my gaze still fixed on the ground. I had no desire to place it anywhere else.
“Let’s go.” Cold, calculated. That’s who Oren remained as he followed behind me. What once would have been a lively conversation remained silent, and an air of distrust lingered between us.
I obeyed, walking in front of him with my head down and hands tucked behind my back just as I had years ago when I’d joined Special Operations. But this time, there was no smirk, no smugness, noidentity.
I was theirs.
Oren pulled up next to me, reaching over to open the door to my room. Nothing passed between us, simply a trading of prisons. A prison I welcomed with open arms.
One shove and the space I once considered my safe haven came into view. Instead of feeling relief or happiness to be back with Oren, who had come to occupy it frequently, I feltnothing. Nothingas my eyes swept over the destruction Oren had left behind, photos of my past shredded into as many fractured pieces as my soul.
Moving inside, I did what I knew he was going to command me to: clean up all he’d left behind.
