"She was Luna's daughter," Kael said hoarsely. "Why would he—?"
"Because he wanted to make her give in to his demand," Maela interrupted, her voice suddenly sharper. "He needed her for his purpose. And when she wouldn't, he threw her to the wolves."
Luca flinched.
"She was sent to the omega quarters. Not as one of them. But beneath them. A girl with noble blood, living in filth. Sleeping in sheds. Starving with scraps. Wearing torn clothes that didn't fit. Her name became a curse. The omegas bullied her and beat her, and Eirik let them. No, worse… he rewarded them."
Lucian's jaw ticked violently, like it was taking every ounce of will not to snap in half.
"He made it a game," Maela spat. "The more they hurt her, the more he praised them. She lived like that for years. Alone and Tortured."
"Why didn't anyone stop it?" Aeron rasped.
"Because no one dared," Maela said. "And then… something changed."
She exhaled, slow and heavy.
