*Slurrpp*
Liam pulled on the straw and the smoothie came up cold and sweet and he barely tasted it because his mind was somewhere else entirely, back on Ashford Ground, back on the moment after he woke up and found out the man was already gone, already back in the cage, already wrapped and chained before Liam had even gotten off the bed, and Wrath standing at the door with the expression he wore when he had something to say and had decided on how to say it.
Not all battles are yours to win today, Wrath had said. This one was a lesson. You are still breathing because it was a lesson and not a fight. Learn what it was teaching you and not just let anger fuel your emotions and reasoning.
Liam's jaw tightened.
His hand tightened around the cup.
His fingers pressed into the plastic and something gave slightly and a thin line of smoothie ran down the outside of the cup and landed on his trouser leg.
"Dude."
He blinked.
