Then he reached down, fisting a hand in Luca’s hair and yanking his head back, forcing him to look at me.
“Is that what she said?” Silas demanded, his voice rising, anger cutting through every word. “Did she beg you to stop while you carved up her back?”
Luca choked on air, coughing hard, but no answer came.
Silas’s grip tightened, jerking his head back further.
“Answer me!” he barked, the command dominant and absolute.
Panic broke through what little awareness Luca had left.
“No—no!” he stammered, voice shaking. “She didn’t—she didn’t say anything. Not a word.The whole fucking time!”
Something violent shifted in Silas’s expression.
“That’s because she’s stronger than you,” he said, quieter now, but far more dangerous.
He held Luca there for a beat longer, then leaned in, his voice cold and flat.
“I’ll make you a deal.”
Luca's eyes went wide.
“You stay quiet through what comes next…” Silas continued, “Nota sound.Nota breath. And I'll let you live.”
A pause.
“But you makeonenoise…”
His grip tightened once more.
“I'll end you.”
Silas then released his hold.
Luca’s head hit the floor with a dull, lifeless thud, his body barely responding, breath coming in shallow, uneven pulls.
Silas didn’t hesitate.
He grabbed the back of Luca’s shirt and tore it open in one sharp motion, fabric ripping clean down the center, exposing his hairy back.
Blood already slicked his skin, pooling beneath him, as hisbody trembled faintly with each strained breath. Proof he was still alive.
For now.
I felt Knox’s fingers lace into mine, gently tugging me toward the exit, but my feet refused to follow.
“You don’t have to watch this, Lena,” he murmured, giving a softer pull.
I didn’t move. My eyes stayed fixed ahead.
“I want to,” I said, the words small but certain.
Knox exhaled, then gave a small nod. “Alright.”
He didn’t let go though. His hand remained wrapped around mine, anchoring me.
Silas glanced up, catching Knox’s eye for a brief second. Something passed between them, silent and understood.
