Soraya's POV
I wondered if he had come again to demand why I'd hidden my true nature. The thought gnawed at me as Ethan stood there, silent, eyes fixed on mine. Neither of us spoke.
The air between us tightened, heavy, as though the silence itself was its own form of torment. Even with everything that had happened, even with the truth hanging like a blade above me, I couldn't bring myself to hate him. And that weakness — that infuriating ache in my chest — annoyed me more than anything.
I masked it, kept my expression still, unyielding, though my heart beat faster under his stare.
Finally, Ethan broke the silence. His voice was calm, too calm.
"You won't be staying here again from today, Soraya."
He signaled to the guards. Keys scraped against iron, and the cell door groaned open. I didn't move. My eyes never left his face, searching, questioning.
"Come on, Soraya," Ethan said, his tone steady, unreadable. "It's time to leave this dungeon."
